Indonesian Women Coalition makes a press conference on 13 June 2025, and invites 8 resource people. Mike Verawati says that the objective of the press conference is to respond to Fadli Zon’s interview with Uni Lubis who states that rape in May 1998 is nothing but rumour. Mike says that the Rape tragedy in May 1998is not fiction, and cannot be ignored just because there is no significant data.

Ita F. Nadia has the first chance to speak and she says that on 10 June, she was shocked when she heard an interview between Uni Lubis and Fadli Zon who stated that the Rape in May 1998 was just a rumour. A rape victim phoned from Sidney and asked her whether she needed to testify? Ita said that what Fadli Zon said about the rape incident in May 1998 was a lie and that was wrong. The historical fact is already written in Indonesian History Book 6 Page 679.

. . .That there were mass rapes in Many 1998 against women in Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Surakarta. The book makes it very clear. Fadli Zon denies historical facts about Presidential Decison No. 181/98 that there were 11 women who presented factual documents to then President Habibie in October 1998. Ketika waktu itu Saparinah menyerahkan pada Presiden Habibie, Habibie bilang ia percaya dan ia menerima bahwa terjadi perkosaan. Lantas waktu itu Saparinah Sadli mengatakan "kami butuh satu komisi yang melindungi perempuan dari kekerasan." Lalu menunjukkan dokumen pendirian Komnas perempuan bersama Smita Notosusanto. Jadi yang dikatakan Fadli Zon adalah dusta. Dia justru menyangkal peristiwa perkosaan padahal 23 Januari 202, Presiden Jokowi telah menetapkan 12 pelanggaran berat HAM. Fadli Zon telah berdusta berbohong."Kita tuntut dia meminta maaf kepada korban. Bahwa statemen Fadli Zon adalah kebohongan publik dan dusta yang itu harusnya tidak disampaikan oleh pejabat publik."

The second speaker, Kamala Chandrakirana suggests that the report of visit in October 1998 found a culture of denial amongst state officials, where they felt that the violence and rape were not serious issues for investigation. Fadli Zon’s statement that rape in May 1998 was a rumour shows that he is part of that denial culture when truth has come up for so long and still there is denial, which is disappointing. Kamala believes that this is a true sign of impunity that keeps on going.

The second point is that the rape incident in May 1998 continued to become a trauma and, also, to become a momentum for the rise of women’s movement that would become the DNA blueprint for subsequent movement and historical fact.

The rape incident in May 1998 became an issue of violence against women. The joint Fact Finding Team (TGPF) and National Women’s Rights Commission as the first human rights institution then made it into a central issue by the reconstructing the concept for the political-legal and cultural life in Indonesia. The concept became the key building block of the achievement of the reform thanks to its accountability mechanism – for rights to justice, truth and for all citizens. This is an important historical lesson for Indonesia. If this is not integrated into the historical narrative of the country, then it would lose its meaning and supports, because the country’s path would not align with the facts, simply because the denial persisted even after 30 years. Women and human rights movement would continue in remembrance of the victims. The question is “how to bring the case out in the open? Kamala answers that it necessitates the overall transformation of the nation’s culture in order to prevent similar incident from happening again. This constitutes our debt to the victims.”

The third speaker, Usman Hamid cites Fadli Zon that the rape incident in May 1998 was a rumour. He affirms that this was not mere rumour. There is already authority who knows the truth. This has been decided jointly by ministers.

So, Fadli Zon’s statement loses credibility. What the government should have done is to set up a human rights tribunal immediately to look at the evidence of kidnapping and rapes. Usman says that Yusril is also in denial about the rape incident in May 1998.

Usman adds that the National Human Rights Commission has: (1) case documents regarding the shooting of students, (2) riots in May 15 and 16 in 1998, and (3) a series of kidnapping and forced disappearance. They were given official order by the Law. There must be respond to the statement of the Minister of Cultural Affairs. The National Human Rights Commission concludes that there were rapes, and that there should be guarantee for human rights and rehabilitation for victims.

The fourth speaker, Sulistyowati Irianto says that we should look at Fadli Zon’s denial of the rape incidents in May 1998 from a bigger standpoint – the people who wrote and wrte history are the same people who gave the titular honour to other people as heroes.

Sexual violence constitutes sexual persecution: by inserting sharp objects into the most sensitive organs. The denial places Indonesia at the very back end of the line. In documents and photos, and many thesis written by Indonesians or foreigners would be disputed (denied). Indonesia would be seen as anti-science. All this shows that the Indonesian citizens in general and the victims in particular are inter-connected by the same value.

The political identity as a nation would suggest whether we are a community of citizens of the same country. What can of identity would be instrumental in building our nation? The future is a history in repetition. "We learn from other countries. Germany has buildings to preserve memories. There, people regret and are adamant that what happened in the past should not happen again. The State should pay the price so that the incident never happens again."

The subsequent speaker, Andy Yentriyani suggests that there is a Komunitas Daya (Daya Community) that helps others in the name of spirituality. History writing becomes a non-linear and complex foundation filled with challenges, not only in terms of writing clearly and honestly, but also as a good lesson.

Cita-cita kemerdekaan bukan hanya bersatu dan berdaulat tapi adil dan makmur. Menurut Andy, pernyataan Fadli Zon adalah penggembosan dengan menafikan peristiwa perkosaan Mei 98Ada tujuh alasan mengapa para korban terus membungkam di antaranya ada alasan personal, ada korban yang bunuh diri.

Andy says that the tragedy in May 1998 has become a turning point in solidarity. There were reasons why the State apparatus were involved. There was an ambiguous attitude. There was view that the violence in May 1998 was just an assumption. The Indonesian history book never writes about conflicts based on ethnicity. The later may be a small note in history. Many victims are not sure that law will bring them justice. There is witness protection office (LPSK), yet the solution remains ambiguous.

What would be the guarantee that there is protection for Daya? "When I was the chairperson of the National Women’s Rights Commission, there were laws to deal with the issue, yet even then we were not able to erase the “imprint”. "So when political event happened such as the National Election, then the May incident became an issue or instrument. "Systematic discrimination remains. We found that the incident in May 1998 became a form of threat. I believe the victims community, the human rights community reflect and become concerned that similar incidents may happen again generation after generation," explains Andy.

When telling a story about a man who helped victims of the rape in May 1998, Andy says, "Defending the victims of rape in May 1998 is like keeping the cooking fire going in a party. The fire should not be hot or cold. It should be kept from the wind," he says.

The subsequent speaker, Julia Suryakusuma says that there are 13 novels about rape in May 1998, one of which is a novel entitled "Sekuntum Nozomi" by Marga T. Julia believes that Fadli Zon’s statement show his allegiance with Prabowo. The reform era stopes during President Jokowi era particularly during his second term, as people can see in how he steered in the New Order.

"I won’t mention the name because this would be a trigger for the history record. I write about state motherhood as women’s politics in New Order era not simply to talk about women, but more importantly to talk about State construction. Rape has become a systematic war strategy and occupation. We have stepped backward," says Julia.
About the book "Religion, Sex, and Power", chapter 15 writes about mass rape in May 1998. "making women disappear in history is common. I made that term myself. I got it from Inggit, I wrote an article about “Inggitisasi” Indonesian women. 20 tahun menemani bung Karno. The reason to split is that she wanted to have a child. Bu Inggit did not want to share a husband with other women. Bu Inggit simply refused and returned to her old job making traditional herbal drinks and cold talc powder. That is what happened in the Old Older era, reform era, and new era says Fadli Zon," says Julia.

Fadli Zon’s statement is deliberate and systematic. Julia urges people not to be so naive. Fadli Zon commit an aggression to the country and the people of Indonesia. This is not only about race. This is the same. This is not just about history. "This re-writing is an attempt at brainwashing, but it will not happen because we are smart," says Julia.
Julia mentions that repression, militerism will always be present. At the end of last year, prabowo became president and he was depressed. Julia sees that Prabowo is a reflection of New Order regime. So it is not a surprise to hear his statement. It is a State strategy to subdue women. "To point the bayonet to the vagina" is Julia’s writing on the “Military Operation Area” strategy. Women are raped using sharp tools - bayonet. "We must know that the history is full of that. Let them write history. We will also write history – LGBT version, women version," she argues.

She closes by saying that the current State is strong because of the support from the military and the social media. If that is the history version, then it is outdated, and it shows that the Minister of Cultural Affairs does not understand history, and he should not be so naive. Let us not be stuck in a narrow way of thinking. "What Fadli Zon did by denying is not normal. We will resists more strongly," she says.

Jaleswari Pramodhawardhani or known as Dhani explains the seven demands, including the one related to Fadli Zon’s denial of victims, asking Fadli Zon to end the outright lie to the public. History is a collective public remembrance and this action is a step towards public healing, hence there has to be on-going demands for truth. "Without truth, there is no justice. Without justice and democracy, we are nothing but a mirage," he says.

In the question and answer session, Dhani answers that the press conference constitutes a reflection on what Fadli Zon has done and all eight speakers reject re-writing the national history because they see a tendency to wipe out all factual events, that we have learned. Fadli Zon’s statement, in fact, affirms that concern. Rape in May 1998 is being erased and stigmatized as rumour. This is not a correction, as it is critical to the country’s identity. Hence, the memory should not be lost.

The next speaker, Mia Siscawati says that the public may google the rape in May 1998. All documents are available in full as described by the previous speaker.

In answering a journalist’s question, one speaker says that Fadli Zon’s denial is a type of diversion to avoid embarrassment and unease about their past acts. It is clear that the government should have taken actions to address the event in May 1998 as made clear by the legal process. The latter includes on-going judicial processes against two military figures - Syafri and Prabowo. There is a need for follow-up on the Trisakti case. It is possible that the statement is a form of denial in order to protect government people at the time.

In closinh the press conference, Mike says that there are many movement nodes, including women coalition that will continue with colleagues who reject Fadli Zon’s denial. The press conference is not the first action, as it is going to continue in order to show that history matters, and that a historical milestone will emerge out of it. (Ast)