1998

I got this mail from a friend.

This mail is talking about how some of the Indonesians targeted only at the Chinese females in the population in the year 1998. They call it Ethnic Cleansing..

A mail that broke my heart. Back then I was 18 as well. I remember vividly hearing about these news. But since it didn't bother me then, I did not try to find out more about what happened. After reading it, I could not sleep the whole night. I toss and turn in my bed. It is so disturbing. I don't understand why it happened.

What the article says:

My name is Vivian, 18 this year. I have a young sister and brother, leaving a condominium which was located at the ‘safe’ side of the town.

At 9am on 14th May 1998, a group of people forced their way in to our condominium. They shouted, “We want to kill Chinese!”, “We are going to eat the pigs!”

Staying at the 7th storey, the neighbors living on the 3rd storey told us that they were already on 2nd storey. They were chasing after the tenants up the building.

We were terrified. Hopping that God will be on our side, we left everything to our faith, and ran upstairs. By the 15th storey, as we wanted to ran into a room, we saw them coming out from the lift. Immediately we slammed the door shut.

Within the room, we heard cries of women and little girls who were outside. We knew that they would come our way in no time, so we tried to hide as best as we could.

We heard a girl, who’s age range was about 10-12, screaming on top of her lungs, “Mummy! … Mummy! … Mummy!… I’m in pain!”

During that moment, we did not know that she was being rape.

After half an hour later, the noise outside began to subside. Being calmer, we went out to take a look. What I saw was beyond any words of description. Many women lied on the floor, some were just children.

My sister, Fenny, and I started going hysterical. We held on to daddy as tight as we could. Together with the friends who escaped with us, we started heading down. We suddenly heard someone crying for help. We walked toward the sound.

We saw 4 men gang raping a 20 year old lady. No matter how hard she fought, she could not fight against the men who were pinning her to the ground.

We realized the danger that we might face, and decided to rush back to the room for safety. But one of the men caught Fenny! We tried to save her. But there were 60 of them. They used shredded mattress sheets to tie us.

We were brought to a room. When uncle Dodi asked them what they wanted, no one bothered to reply him. They looked barbaric and malicious. When one man grabbed Fenny and throw her to the sofa, I knew she was in grave danger. I screamed and was slapped hard across the face.

My daddy had fainted from their whacking with wood. Mummy fainted when Fenny was thrown on to the sofa. I could only pray, prayed that it would not happen.

Uncle Dodi tried to strike a deal with them using money. But it was no use. 5 men took turn to rape her, each saying “Allahu Albar” before doing the act. This is the Islamic way of praising the Almighty God.

After that, I was dragged out along with Aunt Vera. I fainted

About 5-6 in the evening, I slowly became conscious. I recalled what had happened earlier. I was injured on my head, and I was naked. Tears came out.

I saw daddy hugging mummy and my brother, Uncle Dodi hugging Aunt Vera. Everyone was crying. Feeling weak, I fainted again.

The next day I was sent to Pluit Hospital. Daddy and mummy were by my side.

I felt the pain from the needles that were inserted in to my body. Bearing the pain I asked, “Mummy, where is Fenny?” I asked.

Mummy burst into tears. Daddy looked at me with tears in his eyes giving a bitter smile.

Four days later, when I was feeling better, daddy told me what happened to me. I was gang raped by 7 men while unconscious. Daddy was then repeatedly beaten up. It was also during then, mummy realized that Fenny was dead.

My mind started racing. Tears kept steaming through my eyes.

“Why dad!”

Daddy could not answer me. He told me to rest and walked out. I could not stop crying. My life had become meaningless.

1 week later, I was discharged. I found out what exactly happened. Fenny tired to fight them when she was being raped. They hit her. When she did not stop, one of the men became angry. He grabbed a knife and stabbed in to her stomach repeatedly. Fenny died with all her blood over her.

Aunt Vera was raped as well.

“Oh my God! How could such a thing happen? Where is God? Is he even alive?”

Aunt Vera then stayed at her parents place. She suffered from severe shock. Looking pale, she refused to take any food.

Mummy and I always cried when ever we recalled this horrible nightmare. I will never forget how much of a beast those men were.

Dear friends,
This letter was a record of one incident that happened on the 13th to 15th May 1998 at the riot in Indonesia. The targets were all Indonesia Chinese. Their companies were destroyed, they were killed, their houses and shops were burnt in fire, and the females were gang raped. Some were even thrown into the blazing fire after being raped.

The authorities did not offer much help, and not many people know or care about this. We want to create awareness to the world, and hopefully help may be given to the Indonesia Chinese.

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