'People just want to forget the May riots'

'People just want to forget the May riots'

The May 1998 riots remain a bitter memory for the victims of that
tragedy. Some people who lost family members in the violence are
still seeking justice, while others are simply trying to forget
the tragedy. The Jakarta Post spoke with several people about the
issue.

Gito Sarkawi, 28, is a personnel manager at a textile factory
in Kapuk Kamal, North Jakarta. He lives in Pedongkelan, West
Jakarta:

If Indonesia really wants to be a great nation, then it must
never forget the 1998 May tragedy. It must be thoroughly
investigated and those responsible for any human rights
violations that occurred must be tried and prosecuted.

However, if it is true that those responsible are the same
people now in power, or who will be in power, then a search for
truth and justice will be impossible.

All we will be able to do is dream of justice, like all we can
do is just dream of ever being a civilized nation.

Fajar Wicaksono, 21, is an economics student at Atma Jaya
University in Central Jakarta. He lives with his parents and
sister in Ciledug, South Jakarta:

I don't really understand what happened in the May 1998 riots.
At the time, I was still in high school and I wasn't interested
in those kinds of things.

There is not much going on at my campus to commemorate the
event this year. Students used to show a documentary to
commemorate the event, but this year there is nothing. Only
students from Trisakti still hold demonstrations.

I think, considering the number of victims and families hurt
by the event, that many people choose not to think about it any
more. They prefer not to discuss it and just to forget it.

-- The Jakarta Post