Remembrance May: Not to be forgotten

The 1998 May riots was not the blackest period in Indonesia's long road to become the nation it is today, but the destruction, killings, violence, rape and general mayhem of the time scarred the hearts of all Indonesians.

The riots called to mind a similar chapter in Indonesia's history when, 38 years ago, seven Indonesian Military generals were kidnapped and killed. The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) were blamed for the killings, sparking nationwide riots against PKI members and Chinese-Indonesians.

However, those black days in May, which led to the downfall of the 32-year regime of authoritarian Soeharto, must not be forgotten nor glossed over -- so that history will not repeat itself yet again.

Below are images of the riots captured by The Jakarta Post's photographers, juxtaposed with images of today, when everything has returned to normal -- it's business as usual. Or is it?