Versi Bahasa Indonesia Twenty-five years since the start of the Reform era, which had carried the hopes for democracy and stronger civil rights, the nation finds itself in a familiar position, with renewed efforts to bring back what observers fear to be the hallmarks of the autocratic New Order regime.

Beginning on May 12, 1998, Jakarta was consumed by ten days of racially-charged rioting that shook the entire country, sparked by a student-led peace march that went awry. Four Trisakti University students were shot to death by security apparatus and chaos ensued.

Soeharto eventually stepped down on May 21 that year, and the Indonesian armed forces crucially stepped away from their role in civilian affairs, allowing democracy to flourish.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by DIO SUHENDA (THE JAKARTA POST)

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