RIOTS

This video shows the May 1998 Jakarta riots that led to the retirement of President Suharto. Reportedly, the riots were organised by elements of the military and the CIA. "A security officer alleged that Kopassus (special forces) officers had ordered the burning down of a bank; a taxi driver reported hearing a man in a military helicopter encouraging people on the ground to carry out looting; shop-owners at a Plaza claimed that, before the riots, military officers tried to extract protection money; a teenager claimed he and thousands of others had been trained as protesters; a street child alleged that Kopassus officers ordered him and his friends to become rioters; there was a report of soldiers being dressed up as students and then taking part in rioting; eyewitnesses spoke of muscular men with short haircuts arriving in military-style trucks and directing attacks on Chinese homes and businesses. There were reports of children being encouraged to enter malls and then of the malls being set on fire." Over 1,000 people died during these Jakarta riots, most having been burnt in malls and supermarkets but some having been shot or beaten. The military made an appearance in force after the riots; there were few signs of any uniformed soldiers on the streets during the riots.