Unsolved mysteries of May 14<\/p>\n
Were the riots of May 14 in Jakarta a spontaneous action by
\nthe masses? The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
\nhas come to the conclusion that they were instigated by an
\norganized group. This (unspecified) group made use of the fact
\nthat the state security apparatus was at that time preoccupied
\nwith watching the students' actions on campus. Komnas HAM,
\nrepresented by its secretary-general Baharuddin Lopa, has urged
\nthe government to conduct an investigation.<\/p>\n
It is surprising indeed that the biggest rioting in the
\nhistory of the (Soeharto) New Order is still not being tackled
\nadequately. Given the extent of the damage caused, the logical
\nthing for the government to do would be to start an
\ninvestigation. This is truer still since so many mysteries have
\nsurfaced surrounding the incident. For example, a number of
\neyewitnesses have told of trucks dropping agents provocateurs at
\nseveral flash points. It was they who started the looting and
\nburning, and left when the masses followed in their wake.<\/p>\n
Another mystery concerns the belated anticipation on the part
\nof the security apparatus. The chief of the Armed Forces, later
\nsupported by the Army Strategic Reserves (Kostrad) Division I
\nCommander, explained the riots spread so rapidly that the troops
\nwere not ready. This, however, needs further explanation. In
\nlight of the rapidly rising tensions following the shooting of
\nthe Trisakti students on May 12, the security apparatus should
\nhave immediately taken anticipatory measures.<\/p>\n
The many mysteries that remain have meanwhile given rise to
\nspeculation among the people. One of the most widespread is that
\nthe May 14 riots, the shooting of the Trisakti students and the
\nabductions of proreform activists in the past months are all
\nconnected. Speculation has it that all those incidents happened
\nas a result of existing political rivalries in the upper echelons
\nof the power elite, and that they were planned by a certain group
\nwith the aim of achieving its own political ends.<\/p>\n
If left to ferment, the speculation will grow and flourish in
\nall kinds of versions. It is time the Armed Forces solve those
\nmysteries once and for all. If our people don't believe that
\ntheir country is safe and sound, how are we ever to resolve the
\neconomic and political crisis in which we are at present
\nentangled?<\/p>\n
-- Republika, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unsolved-mysteries-of-may-14-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }