Historian Affirms Mass Rapes of 1998 as Undeniable Fact
Historian Ita Fatia Nadia has affirmed that the mass rapes during the May 1998 riots constitute an undeniable historical fact. She has urged the judges of the State Administrative Court (PTUN) to declare the statement by Culture Minister Fadli Zon, who denied the incident, as incorrect.
Ita, who is also the plaintiff in this case, claims to have been directly involved in supporting the victims since 1998. According to her, the trial at the PTUN represents a crucial moment to reopen the truth about gender-based violence during that era.
“I dealt directly with the victims. This trial is a milestone to reveal the gender-based brutality that occurred through women’s bodies,” said Ita during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4).
She mentioned that around 158 victims were recorded in various cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Palembang, and Solo. This data was later verified by the Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF) to 58 victims.
“I personally handled 15 victims in Jakarta. The youngest victim was 11 years old in Tangerang,” she stated.
Ita also revealed that she was once a member of the TGPF but resigned due to pressure from authorities demanding the victims’ identities be disclosed.
“The pressure was extraordinary. I could not continue under those conditions,” she said.
According to Ita, the lawsuit to the PTUN, supported by civil society, is a critical step after nearly three decades of the issue being continuously denied.
“For almost 30 years, we were considered liars. It was said that the mass rapes were nonsense. That is not true,” she emphasised.
She added that the victims’ testimonies and witnesses in the trial, including the presence of victims’ families, strengthen the evidence that the incident did indeed occur.
“In my hands, there is evidence and testimonies. This is a humanitarian obligation to continue fighting for,” she said.
Ita warned that if the PTUN does not acknowledge these facts, it will set a bad precedent for law enforcement in Indonesia.
“If clear facts are not accepted, then the law itself is in question,” she said.
On the same occasion, Kusmiati, the mother of one of the victims, provided an emotional testimony. She claimed to have witnessed the victims’ conditions in the hospital after the incident.
“I searched for my child from Grogol to the hospital. I saw many victims from various backgrounds,” she said.
She emphasised that the incident left deep wounds that have never healed.
“This is a major human rights violation. It must not be forgotten,” said Kusmiati.
The trial at the PTUN is considered an initial gateway to reopen the facts of the May 1998 violence, while also testing the state’s commitment to upholding justice for the victims.