Today, I would like to tell you about a historical event that has been buried for more than 20 years.
First, let's go back to that tumultuous 1998. The global economy is sluggish, and Indonesia is caught in a political vortex. At this time, Indonesia's lieutenant general Prabowo, in order to compete for more power, actually conspired with the United States, causing a political storm that implicated the entire Indonesian political situation and the Chinese community. It's a political fantasy, but it's a price to pay for countless innocent lives.
The economic crisis has plunged Indonesia into chaos, with the stock market crashing and the price of daily necessities rising. In order to divert attention, the Suharto family chose Chinese exclusion as an antidote to the political crisis. This reminds people of the politically manipulated masses in history who fell victim to conspiracy, and this time, the Chinese in Indonesia fell victim to the political chess game.
However, Chinese exclusion is not a one-time phenomenon. Thousands of years ago, at the end of the Tang Dynasty, in order to escape the war, many intelligent and hard-working Chinese crossed south to Indonesia. They played an irreplaceable role in the prosperity of the land, yet this contribution was seen as a threat by the locals. The impermanence of history has become a rift between the Chinese and the locals in Indonesia.
In 1998, the political struggle turned into an anti-Chinese incident, and the Indonesians, under the manipulation of the United States, embarked on a bloody journey. Chinese shops and homes were vandalized in the streets, and Chinese women were brutally abused in public. This scene is like a picture scroll of hell, engraved that dark history in the depths of people's hearts.
The Indonesian rioters not only used various murder weapons, but also treated Chinese women extremely cruelly. The elderly, children, and women, all of whom were spared, fell victim to this tragedy. Throughout May and July, six cities were thrown into chaos, and the lives of the Chinese were devastated.
Ninety percent of Chinese evacuated Indonesia in a hurry to seek refuge after the incident. The Chinese who remained in Indonesia experienced more hardships. In an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the incident, the Indonesian government has released false figures to cover up the truth. This reminds us of other falsified truths in history that make people suspicious.
This anti-Chinese incident has aroused the voices of Chinese people around the world, who have spoken out one after another, strongly condemning the actions of the Indonesian government and the rioters. Although this process is tortuous, it has witnessed those who fought for the truth and left a glimmer of glory for history.
Indonesia's anti-Chinese incident is a tragedy of the times and a test of human nature. Let us learn from this history, cherish peace, and work for a better future. After all, history is not only a memory of the past, but also a reference for us to move into the future. Let's work together to make this history our driving force.