Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) pressed the government to take concrete action concerning the May 1998 riots that killed more than 1,000 civilians.

"We will unite in our fight for justice so that the government take action on severe human rights violations," Kontras monitoring officer Daud said Friday.

The riots from May 13-15 in 1998 saw angry masses destroy shops and other buildings, as well as kidnapping, raping and killing innocent civilians.

The riots began the day after the killing of four Trisakti University students by state forces in a reform demonstration against Soeharto's New Order regime.

The Kontras has teamed up with other human rights activist groups, such as the Victim Solidarity for Justice Network (JSKK) and Families of Missing Persons Association (IKOHI), in voicing their three demands to the government.

The first demand is for the President to instruct his administration to support the fight for human rights and justice. The second demand is that the chief attorney immediately investigate the incident. The third demand calls on legislators to recommend the establishment of a temporary human rights court to the President.

"The Attorney General's Office has always refused to investigate because they said the documents were not complete and because the human rights court was not yet established," Kontras impunity monitoring officer Putri said. "We will keep fighting for this case through campaigns and warnings," she added.

On Friday Kontras and families of May '98 victims paid their respects by spreading flowers in Citra mall, Klender, the site of the killings, and the Pondok Rangon cemetery, where the victims are buried.

Kontras will also hold a "reform tour" on Sunday morning at Kebon Singkong followed by a relaxed walk themed "against forgetfulness" towards the Klender museum.