Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli stated that during the 1998 anti-Chinese riots in Indonesia (referred to in Indonesia as the May Black Tragedy), there was no evidence to substantiate the occurrence of large-scale sexual violence against Chinese women. He claimed that related information was purely rumor, sparking widespread controversy.
According to a June 16 report by the "Indonesia Business Daily," Fadli recently mentioned in an interview that there is no evidence to confirm the existence of large-scale sexual violence, including mass rapes, during the May Black riots. He insisted that this information is purely rumor and has never been recorded in historical accounts.
As the primary person in charge of Indonesia's national history rewriting project, Fadli's remarks have ignited public outrage. This project, overseen by the Ministry of Culture, is scheduled for completion and publication in August 2025.
Responding to Fadli's remarks, Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission chairperson Anis stated on June 15 that if the state attempts to erase the tragic events of the May riots from history and public memory, society will lose its historical value. Victims will lose their rights to justice and truth, "This matter must be taken seriously."
She emphasized that the May 1998 riots, including acts of mass rape, have been confirmed as severe human rights violations through investigative reports by the National Human Rights Commission and other institutions.
He revealed that the initial draft of the historical rewrite only included two human rights cases, Talangsari and Tanjung Priok, while the 1998 May Black riots were intentionally excluded. This exposed a systemic attempt to erase history.
He condemned Fadli's remarks as a "denial of truth" and questioned whether they were an "attempt to divert public attention from historical events that could damage the president's image."
The Indonesian National Commission on Violence Against Women stressed that the TGPF investigation team, organized by the government, had confirmed the existence of sexual violence during the events, a conclusion acknowledged by then-President Habibie at the time.
A commissioner from the commission pointed out that survivors have long endured the silent pain of their experiences, and the minister's denial not only inflicted further harm but also perpetuated a culture of impunity.
Fadli is a close ally of Indonesian President Prabowo. Prabowo, as a former special forces commander, has been widely reported to be a key behind-the-scenes figure in the abduction of activists during the latter days of the Suharto regime. As Culture Minister, Fadli is now accused of having total control over the country's historical narrative—not only overseeing the compilation of official historical records but also serving as chair of the National Honors Title Committee, which holds the authority to recommend controversial figures, including former President Suharto (Prabowo's father-in-law), for the title of "National Hero."