Jakarta – The Jakarta administration and the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) officiated on Wednesday a monument in remembrance of the May 1998 tragedy.

The construction of the monument began last year with support from then deputy governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama at the Pondok Ranggon public cemetery in East Jakarta where many victims of the tragedy are buried.

Komnas Perempuan chairwoman Azriana said on the sidelines of the event that the presence of the city's officials gave hope to the victims' families. "This shows us that the state admits that the rights of some residents were abused in the tragedy," she said.

Ahok, who was initially scheduled to attend the ceremony, canceled his attendance at the last minute. Marulah Matali, assistant to the deputy head of the Jakarta Citizen Monitoring Unit who attended the event on behalf of the governor, said that Ahok saw the monument as a symbol of unity and companionship among residents.

"This is not a monument that symbolizes pain, but a reminder to all of us to stay positive, calm and to not be easily provoked [by sensitive issues]," Ahok said in his written speech read by Marulah. (prm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/13/jakarta-remembers-may-1998-tragedy.html