TheJakartaPost
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The 1998 riots legacy
The May 1998 riots, where hundreds of people were burned alive in shopping malls and many Chinese women were reportedly raped or harassed in Jakarta, remain unsolved and the persons whose names are often linked with the barbaric violence are now edging themselves closer to the power center
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The May 1998 riots, where hundreds of people were burned alive in shopping malls and many Chinese women were reportedly raped or harassed in Jakarta, remain unsolved and the persons whose names are often linked with the barbaric violence are now edging themselves closer to the power center. The riots forced Soeharto to end his 32-year rule. Knowing there was little hope to obtain justice from institutions or state officials who are obliged by the state to protect citizens, many Jakartans took measures to protect themselves, erecting boom gates around their neighborhoods or hiring security guards. That year, the city experienced a boom in this kind of security industry.
Today, there are hardly any neighborhoods, office complexes or kampongs without boom gates. Speed breakers, which Jakartans call polisi tidur , have also mushroomed around town, forcing motorists to slow down.
There are thousands of boom gates in Jakarta, many of them even function as fences, in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, or Pantai Indah Kapuk in North Jakarta. The residents who surround their neighborhoods with iron fences are often perceived as egotistical people who do not want to mingle with other residents.
It is true many of the fences, boom gates or speed breakers – mostly built illegally – have been a nuisance to Jakartans, restricting public access. All Jakartans should support Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo’s decision to remove the illegal gates for the public’s sake.
“Many boom gates have been erected without permits. Once again, just bring down all gates built illegally,” the governor said recently. He added that according to a 2007 by law on public order, all street gates had to be approved by the governor. And we just want to remind the governor how costly it is to get any kind of permit in Jakarta.
But when the state is powerless to bring to justice those who were responsible for the 1998 tragedy, is there any hope residents of this city will let themselves be vulnerable to security threats again? Governor Fauzi can take the strongest oath as he wishes to convince the people they can count on his words, but Jakartans know very well they should not let themselves be trapped by promises from state officials.
If necessary, the governor can also ask the Jakarta police chief to give his highest assurance police will guarantee the security and safety of people even when there are no longer fences, speed breakers and boom gates in Jakarta. But Jakartans know very well how little the police can be relied on.
We do support the governor’s determination to uphold law. We just want to remind him people cannot live on promises only. The restrictions should be lifted, but only when residents truly believe they are safe. And it looks very unlikely so far.
