Jakarta Vice Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ T Purnama asked the elected president in the upcoming presidential election on July 9, 2014, to investigate the tragedy of May 1998. The investigation must be conducted in a bid to prevent similar tragedy from happening again in the future, and also as evidence of obedience to the constitution, not constituent.

We must be led by a president who dares to ensure the tragedy of May 1998 can be avoided in the future. The next president must be willing to die for the sake of the constitution, instead of its constituent

“We must be led by a president who dares to ensure the tragedy of May 1998 can be avoided in the future. The next president must be willing to die for the sake of the constitution, instead of its constituent,” stated Basuki on the sidelines of the groundbreaking of a needle-shaped monument called ‘Prasasti Jarum Mei 1998’ at Pondok Rangon Cemetery (TPU), East Jakarta, Sunday (5/18).

According to Basuki, the investigation results of May 1998 tragedy would be a record for the nation. The tragedy is never finished investigated although it happened 16 years ago. Thus, the victims’ families are currently waiting for clarity from the government about the actual thing happened at that time.

“The record means we must understand the things that should be obeyed and the things should be avoided. I urge the victims’ families to never get tired of asking the government’s promises to reveal the case,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence against Women, Yuniati Chuzaifah, told that this activity has been held since the last four years. She also emphasized that the activity this year has nothing to do at all with the momentum of the 2014 Presidential Election.

“I am thankful to Mr. Ahok. Finally, there is an element of the country that cares with May 1998 tragedy which remembered with needle inscription. It is very reasonable if people associate this with the presidential election. However, we as the event organizer, stressed that it is no relation with it at all,” she uttered.

Based on beritajakarta.com observations, the groundbreaking of the inscription was done in the presence of 113 unnamed tombs of May 1998 tragedy victims. There are hundreds of victims buried en masse 16 years ago in Pondok Rangon Cemetery.