Being an outsider I of course should be careful with any judgment on the matter. Especially because ‘98 is a mixed message: the end of a dictatorship accompanied by atrocities. In a cynical way Suharto went in the same way he came - ‘in style’ so to say.

You’re right, I’m sorry to say, that there seems to be only sporadic attention when it comes to the dark sides of Indonesian history (which of course is not uncommon elsewhere - France likes to forget about Algeria and, my country, seems to be traumatically paralyzed about ‘Srebrenica’, to mention just two).

That’s wrong because ignoring is an intellectual lie. And it’s unfair, because the victims and the surviving relatives deserve recognition. And it’s bad for the mental health of a nation, because a nation that can’t live in truth isn’t a free nation. A kind of remembrance day is the least one could expect.

It should be in the collective memory of the country and it should be discussed openly. Including the structural factors which make these outbursts of violence possible. It might have something to do with a threatened and culturally militarized state, economical crises and nearly 40% of the population below the poverty line.

I’m the first one to admit that latent racism - and other exclusive ways of thinking about “we” and “them”- is everywhere I’m afraid. But why did it become so aggressive and active in this case? Why did the angry masses specifically rage against the Chinese minority? What are the differences and common denominators with other atrocities against minorities in the past: (presumed) communists, religious minorities? And what can and should be done about the causes?

Indeed, here is a major case for the Indonesian intellectuals. Silence is not enough.

Now, in spite of my intentions, I have been judgmental. I’m sorry. I hope you don’t mind or at least will forgive me for that.