Jakarta Vice Governor, Basuki 'Ahok' T Purnama attended the groundbreaking of a needle-shaped monument called Prasasti Jarum Mei 1998 made by victims of the riots, which symbolizes their open wounds, at Pondok Rangon Cemetery (TPU), East Jakarta, Sunday (5/18). This inscription as a memorialization sign of Pondok Rangon TPU which is one of the historical sites related to the tragedy in May 1998.

The activity should be implemented continuously which aims to recall the historical of this tragedy

Such groundbreaking is attended by hundreds of victim families that were buried en masse about 16 years ago.

In his speech, Basuki said the needle inscription was built to remember the tragedy of May 1998, in which the Pondok Rangon TPU as one part of the history at that time. "The activity should be implemented continuously which aims to recall the historical of this tragedy," he stated, Sunday (5/18).

He assessed that there are no people dead in vain, including the May 98 riots victims who have contributed to the present government. "This is not a form of retaliation, but a reminder sign to prevent similar tragedy in future," he exclaimed.

H e asserted that May 1998 tragedy is a defining moment of reform in Indonesia, including himself who became a politician who was born in the reform era after the tragedy of May 1998. "I think we or anyone know, without such tragedy, there is certainly not going to be a story of Ahok becomes Jakarta Vice Governor," he uttered.