Mozes Gatotkaca, Memorials and Public Memories

There are several markers of the tragedy around the 1998 reform that have been built. Can the memorials help preserve public memories of the serious rights abuses occurring at the time?

KOMPAS/EDDY HASBY (ED)

Riot at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Friday (15/5/1998). Students and the public asked for government reform.

Jl Mozes Gatotkaca, a street located in Yogyakarta, appeared to be deserted on Saturday morning (13/5/2023). A number of shops selling cell phones along the road around 4 meters wide were open by noon. The street began to be busy when the afternoon was nearing.

The street was named Mozes Gatotkaca, a dead victim in the clash between student demonstrators and security officers on 8 May 1998 around Jl Gejayan, now already renamed Jl Affandi. Mozes was a graduate of the Akprind Institute of Science and Technology Yogyakarta. He was only earning a living when the conflict took place. In the location of Mozes’ torture, Stefanus Widaryanto, 39, also became a victim of security men’s beating.