Nurfika Osman – Violence on the scale of the May 1998 riots that marked the downfall of former President Suharto could occur once again amid the growing climate of intolerance, activists warned on Wednesday.

Alexander F.W., from the Chinese Indonesian Association, said a survey of 1,079 people last month found that most believed the bloody pogroms and mass rapes targeted against the ethnic Chinese community 13 years ago could happen again.

"Eighty percent of respondents believe that a similar bloody tragedy can happen in the future because they've seen much violence in the country with little attempt to enforce the law," he said.

He also said 84 percent of respondents believed the May 1998 riots were racially motivated, while 38 percent believed there were political factors at play.

"We need to fight to never forget this tragedy," Alexander said. "Sixty-one percent of our respondents agree that we need to have an annual commemoration of the tragedy. Eighty-five percent of respondents also believe that the tragedy was orchestrated and that the government was responsible for it."

Andy Yentriyani, from the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), said the best way to keep the lessons of the tragedy current was through education.

"The May 1998 tragedy should be included in the national school curriculum so that future generations can learn the lessons of those events," she said. "These lessons, such as the importance of solidarity, tolerance, the values of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity] and respect, can bring about a better future where such tragedies will no longer occur."

She added that while history textbooks mentioned the political reforms following Suharto's downfall, they failed to touch on the more prickly topics of looting, sexual assault, attacks and arson.

Andy said Komnas Perempuan was working with organizations such as the Chinese Indonesian Association, the Solidarity Network of Victims and their Families (JSKK) and the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared (Ikohi) to compile a history of the events.

She said this history would be submitted to the National Education Ministry for possible inclusion into the school curriculum.

"The government says it doesn't have the material to put together such a curriculum, but now it won't be able to use that excuse again because we can say 'We have the material.'? And even if they reject it, we'll never stop fighting because we can teach this in non-formal ways."

Andy said Komnas Perempuan was working with teachers' organizations in Jakarta to include this subject in their curriculum. "When the students study the [political] reform, these teachers will teach them about the tragedy," Andy said, adding that some schools had already unofficially adopted this in their curriculum.

Ruminah, whose son was killed when the Yogya Department Store in East Jakarta was burned down during the riots, said the tragedy 13 years ago should never be allowed to happen again.

She also said she had long sought justice from the government, but to no avail. "The government has not spoken about this tragedy," Ruminah said. "I keep waiting and hoping."

Alexander agreed. "The country owes so much to the victims and their families, and the government has an obligation to get to the bottom of this case."