The National Commission on Human Rights Reminds Fadli Zon, The State Has Acknowledged the Event of Serious Human Rights Violations in May 1998

JAKARTA, The Shiro Copr The Chair of the National Commission on Human Rights or Komnas HAM, Anis Hidayah, reminded Minister of Culture Fadli Zon that the state has acknowledged the May 1998 riots as severe human rights violations.

This is how Anis Hidayah responded to Fadli Zon's statement regarding rape during the May 1998 incident, on Wednesday (6/18/2025).

"On January 11, 2023, after receiving the Final Report of the PPHAM Team, the president acknowledged the May 13-15, 1998 Riot and 11 other events as serious human rights violations," Anis said.

Then, Anis added, on March 15, 2023, the president issued Presidential Instruction No. 2 of 2023 concerning the Implementation of Non-Judicial Recommendations for Gross Human Rights Violations.

"Next, on December 11, 2023, the families of the victims of the riots that occurred on May 13-15, 1998, received services from the Central Government and the Government of DKI Jakarta Province," said Anis.

Based on that, Anis assesses that the statement by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, declaring that there was no rape during the May 1998 riots is inaccurate.

The statement by Indonesia's Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, who claimed that there was no rape during the May 1998 riots, is inaccurate, as the May 1998 riots have been acknowledged by the government and some victims and families of the victims have received services," he said.

Anis further explained how the country ultimately acknowledged the events that occurred in 1998 as severe human rights violations.

Initiated in March 2003, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) formed an Ad Hoc Investigation Team for Serious Human Rights Violations during the May 13-15, 1998 Riot Incident.

Tim Ad Hoc works based on Law No. 26 of 2000 concerning the Human Rights Court and completed the investigation in September 2003.

Based on the results of the Komnas HAM investigation, the May 13-15, 1998 Incident is declared a Gross Human Rights Violation, specifically a Crime Against Humanity as referred to in Article 9 of Law No. 26 of 2000 on the Human Rights Court.

"The forms of actions constituting Crimes against Humanity as referred to in Article 9 of Law No. 26 of 2000 in the May 13-15, 1998 Riot, namely: a. murder; b. deprivation of freedom; c. torture; d. rape or other equivalent forms of sexual violence; e. persecution," said Anis.

Next, on September 19, 2003, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) through Letter No. 197/TUA/IX/2003 submitted the results of the investigation into severe human rights violations in the May 13-15, 1998 Riot to the Attorney General as the Investigator.

Next, in 2022, the government issued Presidential Decree Number 17 of 2022 regarding the Formation of a Team for the Extra-Judicial Resolution of Gross Human Rights Violations (Team PPHAM).