Polemic Of Pocong Wiranto's Pledge Challenge In Today's Memory, 27 February 2019

Wiranto, who served as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs from the 2016-2019 era. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, six years ago, February 27, 2019, the challenge of the pocong Wiranto oath to Kivlan Zen and Prabowo Subianto regarding who was behind the May 1998 riots brought a stir. Kivlan Zen also made a new challenge by inviting Wiranto to an open debate.

Previously, military figures Wiranto, Prabowo, and Kivlan Zen were often linked to the 1998 riot tragedy. The business of who was the mastermind is the debate until now. Indonesian military figure, Kivlan Zen has his own answer. He accused Wiranto of being the mastermind of the 1998 riots.

The year 1998 was often known as the dark year of the Indonesian nation. At that time, the whole of Indonesia had to fight with the economic crisis due to the decline in the rupiah exchange rate. People's lives have decreased and unemployment is everywhere.

This condition was exacerbated by the occurrence of riots in May 1998. At that time, security officers tried to relax their guard on May 13-14, 1998. The situation became out of control. At its peak, looting and arson emerged in Jakarta.

Recently, riots led to racial sentiment. Ethnic Chinese was exposed to violence, sexual harassment, and mass rape. The total death toll from Riots in May 1998 according to ABRI data reached 500 people. Damaged buildings were also piled up.

The injury of the 1998 Riots continues to appear to the surface. The debate regarding who was behind it emerged to the public. Mainly, when the political contestation of the presidential election was held, Prabowo Subianto became a candidate for presidential candidate.

Prabowo himself is difficult to separate from the 1998 tragedy. Not a few consider him one of the masterminds of the 1998 Riots. However, military figure Kivlan Zen has his own answer. He considered Wiranto, who at that time served as the TNI Commander, as the mastermind of the riots.

Wiranto, who later became Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopulhukam), denied it. He challenged Kivlan Zen and Prabowo Subianto to take the pocong oath on February 26, 2019.

"I dare, say dare to take the oath of pocong alone. In 1998 it was part of the riots, I, Prabowo, Kivlan Zen, our pocong oath. Who is the real mastermind behind the riots. So that it can be heard in the community, so that the problem is clear. Don't just accuse," said Wiranto as quoted on the Kompas.com page, February 26, 2019.

The challenge of the pocong oath from Wiranto brought a stir. There are those who support it. There are also those who think that method is ineffective. Kivlan himself revealed that the challenge of the pocong oath is not the right option.

Instead, he gave Wiranto a new challenge for an open debate on February 27, 2019. Kivlan will also prepare a series of supporting data to support his statement. Open debate makes more sense than pocong oaths.

Kivlan considers the Indonesian people to be able to directly assess and hear for themselves who was the mastermind behind the 1998 riots. If you really want to prove, the option of a military or human rights court examining the case behind the riots can be carried out.

"If he wants, we will debate on TV or we will go to a military court or a human rights court. The military court is to declare the incident in '98 who was guilty of violating military law, me or Wiranto. Prabowo or Wiranto?" Kivlan said as quoted on the second.com page, February 27, 2019.