Saya melihat tumpukkan mayat yang mati terbakar di sebuah toko serba ada dan saya sempat menolong seorang perempuan korban pemerkosaan “ Demikian pengakuan seorang ibu yang saya wawancarai di sebuah kantor NGO di Jakarta bulan Juni tahun 1998. Seorang juru kamera dari reporter TV Eropah menyorot “close up” wajah wanita yang matanya basah sambil memotong pertanyaan yang saya ajukan.
“ Did you see how many bodies? ” Potongnya dengan bahasa Inggris aksen Belanda. Sambil menggigit bibirnya, Ibu menceritakan kesaksiannya dengan terinci, apa yang dilihat dan dilakukannya membopong perempuan setengah telanjang, yang kulitnya kusuh dilumuti warna arang, hitam dan luka –luka.
Kesaksian seorang Ibu itu bagai sebuah gambaran surealis. Saya bayangkan Edvard Munch mencoret sebuah kanpas putih mencoba meraup-kisah kesaksian Ibu, dengan semua naluri seni, kemudian memuncratkannya dengan warna sepia. Mungkin hasil karyanya lebih terkenal dari karya lukisannya yang mendunia “The Scream” – karya eksplorasinya tentang life, love, fear, death, and melancholy.
Akhir Juni 1998, saya kembali ke Melbourne. Di sebuah kamar editing yang berukuran 2 x 2 1/2 meter berdinding kedap suara, saya cermati berkali-kali rekaman wawancara itu. Naluri kesadaran saya masih terombang-ambing antara imajinasi dan realitas. Saya siarkan malam itu di radio dengan judul ” Kesaksian Seorang Ibu Dalam Kasus Kerusuhan Mei 1998”.
Selesai siaran saya meninggalkan studio tergopoh-gopoh lari ke meja kerja mengambil telepon yang berdering-dering.
“ Ya, ..”. Jawab saya.
“ Nama saya Lily (bukan nama asli)”
Namun beberapa saat, tidak ada suara, diam dan beku.
“ Saya mendengarkan siaran bapak, rumah saya dibakar pak, sampai mereka (penjarah) masuk ke kamar saya, semua pakaian habis”. Katanya terisak-isak.
“ Bagaimana anda selamat dan tahu semua pakaian dijarah?” Tanya saya.
“ Untung saya tidak ada di rumah, saya pulang saya dikasih tahu oleh tetangga dan satpam setempat “ lirihnya.
Kesaksian Ibu dan telepon dari Lily menggugah saya untuk mengumpulkan photo-photo kasus kerusuhan berdarah Mei 1998. Kalau Edvard Munch berhasil memberitakan tentang adanya rasa ketakutan dan kematian di negerinya melalui karyanya” The Scream”, mungkin saya bisa mengangkat karya teman-teman wartawan photo yang berada sebagai saksi di antara puing-puing toko serba ada, di kerumunan masa, atau di jalan-jalan, bahwa Kerusuhan Mei 1998 adalah sejarah hitam yang tidak boleh dilupakan!
Bela Kusumah
Melbourne 3 Mei 2009
Note: Penulis bekerja sebagai Journalist/Broadcaster and Executive Producer SBS Radio Indonesian Program ( from 1988 to 2008). Executive Director of “Yayasan Suara Independen” – Yayasan yang mendukung majalah Suara Independen yang diterbitkan AJI ( 1994-1998) dengan alamat Melbourne.
Photo 3>
“Benteng Terakhir Rezim Orde Baru”
Photographer: Arief Budiman
Mei 1998 Jakarta
” Searching for Target” Trisakti, Jakarta, 12 Mei 1998 Photographer: Edy A photopgraphic.
” Live bullets” Photographer: Edy Haryoso
Trisakti, Jakarta, 12 Mei 1998
Although the security apparatus claimed it used rubber bullets to handle the student protests, wound students indicated otherwise. The response to the six death at Trisakti University by the police and military was typical. They accused certain groups involved in the shooting of undermining ABRI’s credibility.
” Pahlawan Reformasi”
Photographer; Edy Haryoso. Jakarta, May 1998
“During the May riots more than 150 women were raped. Twenty of them were either killed or committed suicide. An independent investigation into the rapes found evidence that the special military unit were involved in many of these rapes”.
” Anak-anak kami ditembak”
Photographer: Edy Haryoso. Jakarta, May 1998
“The End of Dicatator”, Yogayakarta, March 11, 1998
Phtographer: Fatchul Mu’in
Matraman, Jakarta, May 14, 1998
Phtographer: Edy Haryoso
On the streets and freeway, many motor vehicles were stopped by the demonstrator, and drivers were asked to open their helmets. If they were Chinese they had to abandon their cars and motorbikes, which were then burnt in many places, police and government cars were also targetted by the protesters.
Matraman, Jakarta, May 14, 1998
Phtographer: Edy Haryoso
” Baby Benz”. Photograhper: Arief Budiman
“One of the goups of young Indonesian travelers in Melbourne said,” We don’t see many Baby Benz here in Melbourne, we see a lot more in Jakarta”
Mercedes Benz has become symbol of prestige, status and succes among middle and upper class societies in Indonesia. During the riot in Jakarta airport, an expatriate drove a Mercedes Benz and parked in the front of the crowd, and sold his car for cash and fled the country.
” Dalam Kenangan”, Trisakti University, May 12, 1998
Phtographer: Dendy Pratama
” Elang ML was proclaimed as the Hero of Reformasi (Pahlawan Reformasi). He was killed by a sharp shooter during a demosntration. His blood stains the shirt of the Satpam officer who carried him, in vain, to an ambulance.
” Sebuah Kebosanan” Yogjakarta, March 11, 1998
Photographer: Teddy Novana
” The students in Jakarta returned to the streets in response to the shooting of Trisakti University students. In most major cities in Indonesia, the security apparatus now faced the biggest protests since 1967. In the heart of Solo, the shops, offices and buildings were demolished. The government buildings, the police stations even military headquarters, were also ransacked as they represented the government. The house owned by former Minister of Information Mr. Harmoko ( Known as Mr. Hari-hari Omong Kosong) in Solo was gutted.
” Ready to Attack I “. Jl. Matraman Raya, Jakarta May 1998
Photographer: Maria Sandra
” Security apparatus was equipped with rifles, tear gas, battons and stiks. Although the security was ordered to use rubber bullets, many protesters died from gunshot wounds. The news of the death spread all over the country and inspired more students to join the reform movement.
Yogyakarta, May8, 1998.
Photographer: Johny Adi Aryawan
On the main street of Yogyakarta the protesters fought back,” intifada style” risking their own lives. More than 200 people were injured and three people were missing in the clash
” Pertokoan Singosari”, Solo, May 14, 1998
Photographer: Agus Muladi” As emotions heightehed, many demonstration turned to riots. Angry clashes between youths and military occured and these were, in turn, followed by looting and mass destruction of property. Much of this was attributed to ” masterminds” who took advantage of the tension and mobilized people to take to the streets. The looting and burning of the shops, offices and banks, occured sporadically in Jakarta, Solo, Medan and other smaller cities. In jakarta alone, more than four hundreds buildings and shops were destroyed.
Yogyakarta, May8, 1998.
Photographer: Johny Adi Aryawan
One of the students lay unconcious on the tarmac after the protestors clashed with the military apparatus. The victim as draggged into a truck. .
Matraman, Jakarta, May 14, 1998
Phtographer: Edy Haryoso
” Ready to Attack II’ Jl. Matraman Raya, Jakarta May 1998 Photographer: Maria Sandra
” Robocop”, Jakarta, May 12, 1998
Photographer: Dendy Pratama
” Suharto Deposit Box”, Yogyakarta, March 11, 1998.
Photographer: Fatchul Mu’in.Suharto denied allegation by Forbes magazine that he was the fourth richest person after Queen Elizabeth, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, and the Sultan of Brunai.
” If it was rue ( Forbes allegation). I would use the wealth to help the poor” he said innocently on Indonesian television TPI owned by his daughter.
Since early November, thousandth of students have marched to Suharto’s house in the lavish Menteng suburb of Jakarta, demanding he should be brought to justice and demanding Habibie investigate Suharto’s wealth.
” Suharto’s wealth still remains a mystery- perhaps lost in the ashes of deposit boxes gutted by the flames of anger and suffering”
Kepada photographer yang tercantum namanya harap menghubungi profile Facebook ini agar saya bisa mengubungi anda. Saya ucapkan banyak terima kasih atas karya-karya anda sekalian yang menjadi saksi sejarah lembaran hitam di negeri Tercinta Indonesia
Tulisan Terkait tentang Mei 1998
| Bela Kusumah: Jangan Lupakan Peristiwa Berdarah Mei 1998 |
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 “ Saya melihat tumpukkan mayat yang mati terbakar di sebuah toko serba ada dan saya sempat menolong seorang perempuan korban pemerkosaan “ Demikian pengakuan seorang ibu yang saya wawancarai di sebuah kantor NGO di Jakarta bulan Juni tahun 1998. Seorang juru kamera dari reporter TV Eropah menyorot “close up” wajah wanita yang matanya basah sambil memotong pertanyaan yang saya ajukan. (foto: Edy Haryoso) |
Skenario, Modus Operandi, dan Kronologis Kerusuhan Mei 1998
(ARCHIVED/MAIN PAGE/KOLOM TENGAH)
…rs Knudsen (nama asing dari Skandinavia?) dibawah ini yang dikutip dari milis BT pada tanggal 12 Mei 2005 dapat memberikan sedikit informasi tambahan atau pandangan alternatif tentang peristiwa …
Soe Tjen Marching: Tragedi Mei & Tak Perlunya Rasa Maaf
Apa gunanya mengingat tragedi Mei’98? Bila hal itu begitu pahit? Mengapa kita terus menoleh ke belakang?
Good article !
I would like to ask your permission if we can use portion, or this whole story to be brought in to discussion in the event of commemorate The May’98 Tragedy in Indonesia for next year, 2013.
I’m looking forward you grant this permission .
Thank You.
Best Regards,
Dr.Irawan.
VP of ICAA
Malangnya, negara ini diisi oleh manusia-manusia yang rapuh dan ngeri berhadapan dengan kaum anarkis. Pelupaan sejarah yang pahit ini boleh jadi akan membuat peristiwa yang sama terulang. Jadi, generasi muda mesti diajar akan keberingasan generasi sebelumnya.