Memorial to commemorate 1998 riots

Memorial to commemorate 1998 riots

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Leony Aurora, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri attended a ceremony on Thursday
evening to dedicate the Monumen Persaudaraan (Brotherhood
Monument) at the Lindeteves Trade Center, just across from the
protected Candranaya Chinese mansion, in West Jakarta.

Megawati said in her speech that the May riots six years ago
not only claimed lives but also resulted in hatred and trauma.

"We only recognize Indonesian citizens or foreigners living in
the country. So don't refer to yourselves as descendants of
particular ethnic groups," she said.

"The Republic of Indonesia Citizenship Certificate (SBKRI) is
no longer needed," she added, referring to a document that has
been required by Chinese-Indonesians when applying for passports
and other documents.

During the ceremony, a 44-year-old victim of the May riots,
Iwan Firman, said he had forgiven those who had harmed him. Iwan
was left permanently handicapped in the riots.

The construction of the monument was initiated by the Chinese-
Indonesian Reform Movement (Parti). The monument was designed by
noted sculptor Nyoman Nuarta, famous for his Garuda Wisnu Kencana
statue in Jimbaran, Bali.

"The monument is half finished," Nuarta told The Jakarta Post
by phone.

The monument depicts two men -- one of Chinese descent and
another indigenous -- holding the Garuda state emblem. It
symbolizes reconciliation and the will to develop the country
together. The monument will be completed within a month.

In the initial plan, the monument was to be erected in the
park in front of Kota Railway Station, West Jakarta.

The local administration opposed the plan, arguing that the
park would be overcrowded because there was already a fountain
and a busway station.

Nuarta said the current location was not ideal as it was not
spacious enough.

The May 1998 riots, which led to the downfall of former
president Soeharto, have never been fully investigated even
though there were reports of thousands of people killed and
dozens of women, mostly Chinese-Indonesians, raped.