Early Documentation No. 3
"About 11.30 a.m. I saw some people among the crowd stopping a car and forcing the
passengers to get out, and then they dragged two girls out from the car. They take off
their shirts and raped them. The two girls tried to fight back, but it was in vain."
(An eyewitness, Muara Angke, May 14, 1998).
This is not a made up story, but a true story. It is only one of hundreds of rapes that
happened during the riots on May, 1998. The vastness of the rape, according to the reports
filed until today, are shown in various tables and testimonies in this very
"Document". After the riot then came out some statements that denied the fact of
the rape. Well, it is better to silence the statements. The answer is clear already: the
rapes did happen. And this happened to not only one or two, but to many women and
girls.
"After the two girls could get away from the savage rapists, I came to them and
embraced them. They begged me to help them finding a secure way to go home. Since I live
in that district, I know well the short-cut to the main road. At the Cengkareng
cross-road, I saw some nude women corpses, with their faces covered with newspapers. They
must had been raped, for I could see the dried blood out to their vaginas, on which the
flies swarmed. After leading the two girls the way, I went home through the same road. But
when I arrived at the cross-road, the corpses had gone. But to where? Who took them?"
(The witness, Muara Anke, May 14, 1998).
Probably some government officials likely to hold their old play: try going to cover
the case up as if it never happened since there is no report at all on the savage rape
during the riots. It is an easy thing to explain: First of all, in this country,
"having been raped" is a condition which is considered shameful or even a
defect. That is why for sure the victims and their families try not to reveal what
happened to them.
Second, since the physical and psychological suffering is very unbearable, the victims
and the witnesses can only tell, although with difficulties, to the persons whom they
trust. The fact that there is no report at all made to the government shows that until now
the government has not yet been considered trustworthy by the people with such a problem.
Third, to many rape cases during the riots, the rapists also took the victims' KTP
(The Identity Card). And this decreased the possibility of the victims to complain and
make reports. They have been silenced by their feelings of "disgrace", by terror
or threat.
Lastly,, the members of the Volunteers Team for Humanity ("Tim Relawan"), who
have been often contacted by the victims and the witnesses, many times get warnings
not to continue their activities of "listening" and "helping" the
victims. In this very country, even in the (supposed-to-be) reformation spirit, speaking
about and listening sympathetically to the victims of the rapes is still considered a
threat (to the state-nation? or to some official elements?). Even in the (supposed-to-be)
reformation condition, seeking the truth has been accused of being a subversive activity.
So we do not need to question why the international community halfheartedly counts on
Indonesia, as if they are watching a group of barbaric creatures. Please do not ask why
the investments from abroad have not yet come to Indonesia.
From the "absence" of the reports of the rapes to the government, we cannot
conclude that the rape itself never happened. This "Early Documentation No. 3"
precisely shows how vast the rapes mere during the riots. A single act of raping has been
enough to be considered inhuman. Hundreds of rapes with similar brutal modus operandi were
absolutely "systematic and organized massive uncivilized acts". The modus
operandi were very similar to the ones that stimulated the riots on the middle May
1998. (Vide "The Early Documentation No.1 & 2).
Rapes: A Total Destruction of The Community
In the series of the systemic and organized rapes, as a nation we are facing the
following phenomena:
1. A total destruction of the life condition of the woman in our society. All the
ethical principles agree that the highest value of living together is the human soul
(persona). Under this is animal, and then matter (res.). It is impossible to live together
without acknowledging and carrying out this moral principle. The series of the systemic
and organized rape is clearly to be the total destruction of the most respected principle
that makes possible our living together. Persona has been violated and been considered as
res. This is the politics destroying living together.
2. There is one way to repair this total destruction: by applying the hierarchical moral
principle above. It means that we have to put the women, the victims (personae), which
have been considered as "things", on their dignity as personae. That is the
urgency to help the victims as soon as possible, and not first to debate politically. The
fact of the rape that many Chinese people had to suffer does not make it legal and
acceptable. Rape is rape. An it destroys persons. Rape is not acceptable for anyone, both
Chinese or Javanese or Dayak or Irianese. Any government in this country with a conscience
cannot avoid this urgent agenda to repair the total destruction.
3. From the modus operandi of the rape, filed until today, it is clear that the series
of the rapes have a relationship with the destruction and the burning down of the
buildings during the riots in middle May, 1998. As it is clear in Table 3 below, the
series of rapes were carried out systematically and they were well organized, just
like the riot. We civilians of this country demand the revelation of the network of the
think tank and actors of the tragedies.
4. The revelation of the think tanks and actors of these activities is very urgent.
While (a) the help and the direct assistance for the victims are being carried out, and
(b) the volunteers who are helping them get security assurance, (c) the revealing of the
mass rapists becomes a key for reforming our living together. It is not merely a juridical
must, but also includes all urgent significance to the future. Without this, then, the
government is legalizing the "rape" as the only way of how the politics in this
country is carried out. Without revealing the network of the actors of the destruction,
burning down, rape, the government is legalizing the destruction, the usage of criminals
or the hired gangsters as the only way in the political practice in this country. So in
the future history, we and our children will not be able to distinguish what is
"good" and what is "not good" anymore, "civilized" and
"uncivilized", in our lives together.
5. We write down this "Documentation" not to involve ourselves in the
political intrigue and competition, but as a step that a lot of people of goodwill want,
so that the net-work of the systemic and organized rape is uncovered. This
"Documentation" is also our "nightmare" of the savage tragedy in this
nation. Every effort to silence this demand of revealing the events denies the fact of the
rapes. Since rapes did happen, stopping the publication of the fact means is a
big lie and even criminal. To the victims, the rapes have destroyed their lives. To the
ordinary civilians and the eyewitnesses, the uncivilized acts become unbearable memories.
"Since I saw the tragedy, I've been feeling disturbed in my life. When I close my
eyes, the corpses of the women appear on my eyes. I've been very stressed. Since I cannot
stand to face angst and fear, I decided to go home to my village." (An
eyewitness, Muara Angke, May 14, 1998)
For many eyewitnesses, the border between "seeing" and
"experiencing" is obscured, and so is the difference between "self"
and "victim".
"After seeing accidentally a Chinese girl raped by many people, my young sister is
so frightened and stressed. Her talking is disordered and her body is trembling every time
someone comes near her. For two weeks she was in the hospital. I become doubtful if my
sister only saw someone raped or she herself were also raped. Why her reaction is like
that?" (A complaint of a girl's sibling, June 1998).
The phenomenon shows how the effect of the rapes has been so far destructive to the
inner life and daily life of so many people. This is a total destruction of our living
together. So the events have been internalized by some groups of people with the
imagination that is most sadistic and inhuman:
"...on June 12, 1998, in the angkot (public transport) around the West Jakarta,
there were 3 men about 25-35 aged, with the clean shirts. The were talking the news on the
newspaper concerning the case of the rape happened to the small girl and the corpse
mutilation. "Her memek (vagina) should be cut off for souvenir", said one of
them. The other said, "and that should be put in the chemical water." Then the
third said, "O ya...the hairs are there." Then they laughed. Since I could not
stand hearing such a dialogue, I got down before arriving at my place." (The
witness, June 1998). That is an example of the destruction of the imagination on our
living together.
The Extent of The Rapes
The extent of the rapes during the riots May, 1998, was not the result of
fantasies. In this "Documentation", the place and the moment of the rapes can be
recognized. The number of the victims will be mentioned as far as the data filed until the
day this "Documentation" is written down. The similar patterns in the modus
operandi of the rapes also gave a strong indication that the events have involved the
network of planning, the think tanks and actors which are systematic and well organized.
Below are the data of the rapes. Under terror and with hard work are, data and
information below were filed from the victims themselves and from the eyewitnesses, and
not from the rumors or from the newspapers. With the respect and for the confidentiality
demanded by the victims and the eyewitnesses (Cf. Ethic Code for Protection), their names
and identities are not mentioned.
1. Locations of the Rapes
Table 1 shows the extent of the places where the rapes and the sexual abuses took place
in Jakarta and the surroundings. Note the pattern. If the riot, the massive destruction
and burning in May 1998 happened in all areas of Jakarta, the rapes only happened in
West Jakarta, North Jakarta, and the other areas where the Chinese are concentrated to
live and to work. We intentionally show this pattern so that we may note it.
Table 1
Comparation Locations of The Massive Destruction-and-the Burning Down And The Locations of
The rapes-and-the Sexual Abuse
No
Area
Example of the locations of the riots
Example of the location of rape
1
Central Jakarta
Wahid Hasyim (Tanah Abang), Jiung (Kemayoran), Samanhudi (Pasar Baru), Galur,
Cempaka Putih, Sumur Batu, Salemba, Tanah Abang, Harmoni
2
South Jakarta
Cinere, Pasar Minggu, Cipete, Fatmawati, Kalibata, Mampang, Bintaro.
3
East Jakarta
Pasar Rebo, Kramat Jati, Kampung Melayu, Klender, Jatinegara, Matraman, Rawamangun,
Kalimalang, Penas
4
West Jakarta
Palmerah, Kebayoran Lama, Grogol, Roxy, Green Garden, Bojong Indah, Jelambar, Jembatann
Dua, Jembatan Lima, Gajahmada, Glodok, Cengkareng, Angke,Jelambar, Jembatan Dua, Jembatan
Tiga, Jembatan Lima, Jembatan Besi, Cengkareng, Glodok, Kota
5
North Jakarta
Kelapa Gading, Mangga Dua, Pantai Indah Kapuk Pluit, Pantai, Indah Kapuk, Sunter
6
Around Jakarta
Depok, Bekasi, Lenteng Agung, Tangerang, Ciputat, Ciledug, Cikarang. Tangerang, Bekasi
Source: The Documentation of "Volunteers Team For Humanity" (Tim Relawan
untuk Kemanusiaan), the witness of the victims and the witnesses.
In a shorter description, the concentration of the areas where the rapes and the sexual
abuse happened appears in the following picture. It is clear that the rapes and the sexual
abuse were concentrated in West Jakarta, North Jakarta, and other locations around
Jakarta.
Locations of the Rape in the Range of the Riots
Notes:
*The whole picture: The extent of the areas of
the riot
* Grey shadings: The extent of the range of the
rapes and of the sexual abuse.
What to conclude from the pattern of the areas of the rape above? First, the
rapes and the sexual abuse happened in the areas of the riots where destruction, burning,
and massive deaths happened (Vide "The Early Documentation No. 1 & 2). Second,
the pattern clearly shows that the rapes and sexual abuses were directed to the Chinese.
This phenomenon can be identified with the identity of the victims filed by "the
Volunteers Team" even until today.
2. The Modus Operandi of The Rapes
As mentioned above, the rapes and riots happened at the same time. The patterns of
the rapes were very similar to the modus operandi used in the riot. The similarity
suggests that there must be a relationship between the two tragedies.
"A number of unknown people entered shop-house of a victim (R), looted the goods.
Some of the people stripped her dress and forced her to watch her sisters raped. Having
raped, these 2 girls were thrown away to down stairs which started being burned down. They
died but R survived because someone helped her." (A story of the victim's family R,
L, M, on May 14, 1998 incident).
The characteristic of the rapes could be found in so many rapes and sexual abuse. One
of them reads below:
"When a victim was at her home, tens of terrific unknown young men who wore old
and faded shirts rushed her house and looted. Eight of them dragged her, stripped her
dress and raped for 2 hours." (A story the victim L's friend, on May 14, 1998)
As we mentioned at "Preparatory Document No. 2", the actors of the incident
came from unknown places. They are different from the native residents. In some cases,
victims could be saved from the rapes by local residents:
".. Among 4 young men who were driving motor-cycles, there was one shouting
"separate girls and bring to school". The victims escaped from rape because the
residents helped her." (A story of L & L, on May 13, 1998).
Below are the examples of the rapes and mass sexual abuse: what they did, and the
indication of the ones who did.
Table 3
The examples Modus Operandi of the Sexual
Abuses and the rapes on May 13-15 1998
No.
Code name
Age/ Status
Date
Modus Operandi
1
S
A house wife (newly wed)
May 13
Some unknown people came to her home. Some of them threaten, "If you don't give
money, I will rape you". While they plundered goods, she was stripped.
2
L and L
A house wife and her daughters
May 13
A mass of people came from 3 directions. There were 4 young men riding motor-cycle
ordered, "burn, attack" and a group of young other men who wore old and faded
shirts started damaging. This victim came down from the upstairs after her shop-house
damaged and plundered. Among the young men, there was one shouting, "scoundrel
Chinese! Damaging our country!". At the same time, he started scratching the victim
and her daughters, and trying to strip their dresses. Among the 4 young men, there was
someone shouted, "Separate the girls and bring to the school!" This victim
survived from raping because the residents came to help her.
3
W and S
15 and 20
May 13
Tens of young men got out of a truck and attacked shop-house of the victim. They
plundered goods, dragged the victims, stripped their dress and raped them. Some other ones
burnt the shop-house and let the victims burnt inside the shophouse.
4
W and L
50 and 26
(A mother and her daughter)
May 13
Some unknown people destroyed and plundered the victim's house. Some of them forced son of
the victim to rape his sister. They threatened, "If you refuse, we will burn
you!" They also forced the servant of the victim to rape his boss. Raping continued
by unknown people. The victim's house was burnt, brother-sister were thrown into the fire.
Later, their mother suicide by jumping to the fire.
5
D
17
May 13
Tens of young men got out of 2 trucks and attacked shop-house of the victim. They
plundered goods, raped her, even bit and broke off her nipple. After that, they burnt the
shop-house. The victim could run away and escape.
6
R
26
May 14
Some unknown people entered R's room. Some of them plundered goods, the others stripped
the victim. The husband's
victim who tried to protect her, was hit by the rioters.
7
N
A house wife, 4 months pregnant
May 14
Some unknown people broke in the door of R's shop-house and plundered goods. Some of them
dragged and stripped her dress. Her husband, who wanted to help her, was hit by the actor.
In the naked, the victim released herself and run away. When she was going down the
stairs, she fell. Her foot was broken and had miscarriage. This victim died of bleeding at
a hospital.
8
M, L, R
sisters
May 14
Some unknown people entered victim's shop-house and plundered goods. Some of them stripped
R's dress and forced her to see her 2 sisters raped. Having raped, these 2 girls were
thrown down to the burning ground floor. M and L died, but R was to be saved by someone.
9
M
A house wife
May 14
Some unknown people entered victim's shop-house and plundered goods. Some of them kept her
husband and forced him to watch people stripping his wife.
10
L
23
May 14
On May 13 she and her family fled because of the rumor said that there would be students'
movement and riot. Nothing happened and she felt safe. She and her family went back to
their home. On May 14 tens of terrific unknown young men who wore old and faded shirts
rushed her house and plundered. Eight of them dragged her, stripped her dress and raped
for 2 hours.
11
L
11
May 14
Tens of unknown people broke this victim's house and plundered. They stripped her dress,
raped, and damaged her vagina by barbed wire. This victim died at a hospital.
12
L
9
May 14
Some unknown people attacked this victim's house, broke, and plundered. Some of them
dragged this victim, raped and stabbed her vagina with a piece of glass. This victim died
at the hospital in Singapore.
13
N and L
19 and 21
May 14
Tens of people damaged a shop-house of this family's victim. They threatened this victim
by saying, "Because you are Chinese, you are raped". These 2 sisters then were
raped by 7-10 people. Their shop-house was burnt and these 2 sisters were thrown away to
the flame. Their parents saw all of the incident.
14
R, I, and D
18, 15, and 40
May 14
The victim's shop-house was attacked by tens of unknown people. Some people plundered
goods, some others raped his mother and her 2 daughters. Because of the emotional stress,
R jumped over the windows and died. The shophouse then was burnt off. The mother and her
daughter could save by themselves.
15
M
23
May 15
Having plundered and burnt this victim's shop-house, some unknown people kneaded her
breast.
16
L
A house wife
May 15
A group of unknown people entered a real estate. Some plundered goods, some stripped this
victim's dress. They forced her to dance on her bed. Her husband who wanted to help her,
was dragged, hit and gashed his back. One of her neighbor who helping her, also was
stabbed and died. Her son could be saved by her neighbors while her house was burnt.
Nowadays this lady gets mad.
Source: Documentation of the Volunteers Team for Humanity. The stories came from the
victims, their families, and eyewitnesses of May 13-15, 1998 tragedy.
3. The Victims of Mass Raping
The wide range of mass raping can be proven by the numbers of victims, relatives,
friends, and witness as who told the stories secretly and sadly. From the very
confidential report, we could collect the numbers of rape victim and sexual abuses. All of
them are shown at Table 4. Among the victims, 20 died. The other ones physically and
psychologically now are in very bad condition. Till July 3, 1998, there are 168 persons
who told that they got mass raping and sexual abuse (152 persons are from Jakarta
and its environs, 16 persons from Solo, Medan, Palembang, and Surabaya).
The numbers as we see at Table 4 are not the total numbers of the victims. Those are ones
who had reported the incident until July 3, 1998.
Notes:
(1) These data come from the reports of victims, witnesses, and
the victims' families
(2) Data from the victims/their relatives told Volunteers team
(3) Volunteers Team could not make any communication with victims
who did not give any report. There were reticence of victims, their relatives, doctors,
and hospitals staff because of terror.
(4) The rape incident happened after May 13-15 riot were presented
here because the modus operandi of the rape were similar to the ones on May 13-15 riot.
The statistics above are numbers mainly and do not record the threats, terror,
persecution, sadness, tears, fear and loneliness of the victims. For the victims, the
families and the witnesses unbearable memories remain. When many volunteers started
helping by paying attention and listening to the victims, they were terrorized and
threatened. How can justice and the truth be found in this country?
4. Terror to Fact Finding
Since the victims got sympathy, funds, and volunteers who want to listen to them, the
terror and intimidation happened to them, to their relatives, to the Chinese, to the
hospital staff and the doctors who