Background

Indonesia’s Economy began to falter in early 1998, which was affected by the Asian financial crisis during 1997-1999. Students held a large demonstration at the Nusantara Building, including students from Universitas Trisakti. They did a peaceful action from the Trisakti campus to the Nusantara Building at 12.30. But their action was hampered by a blockade from the National Police and the military who arrived later. Several students tried to negotiate with the National Police.

Finally, at 17.15, the students move back followed by the security forces advancing. The security forces started to shoot bullets at the students. The students panicked and scattered, and most of them took refuge in Universitas Trisakti. However, the security forces continued shooting. The victim fell and was rushed to Sumber Waras Hospital. The security units that were at the location at that time were Brimob, 9th Cavalry Battalion, 203rd Infantry Battalion, Kostrad Air Defense Artillery, 202nd Infantry Battalion, Kodam Anti-riot Troops and Motorized Troops. They are equipped with shields, tear gas, Steyrs, and SS-1.

At 20.00, it was confirmed that four students were shot dead and another one was in critical condition. Although the security forces denied that they using live bullets, the autopsy results showed that the death was caused by live bullets. The preliminary result predicted the bullets were from ricochet of the ground that was used as a warning shoot.

Chronology of the Time Range of the Event

• 10.30 -10.45
  • A peaceful action from the Universitas Trisakti academic community at the parking lot in front of M Building (Syarif Thayeb Building) started with the gathering of the entire Trisakti community consisting of students, lecturers, faculty, and university officials and employees. A total of 6000 people were in front of the pulpit.
• 10.45-11.00
  • Free pulpit action began with a flag-lowering ceremony at half-mast with the Indonesia Raya song which was sung together by the free pulpit participant, then continued with a moment of silence as a sign of concern for the current condition of the Indonesian nation and people.
• 11.00-12.25
  • Free speeches and pulpits were held with speakers including lecturers, staff, and students. The action/event continues to run well and smoothly.
• 12.25-12.30
  • The crowd began to heat up, triggered by the presence of several members of the security forces right above the location of the free platform (overpass), and demanded to go down (long march) to the street with the aim of conveying their aspirations to the members of the MPR/DPR. Then the crowd headed to the gate towards Jl. Jenderal. S. Parman.
• 12.30-12.40
  • The task force began to be on full alert (concentrating and covering the front row of the gate) and organized the crowd to be orderly and lined up and gave an appeal to remain orderly when taking to the streets.
• 12.40-12.50
  • The gate was opened and the crowd began to walk out slowly towards the MPR/DPR Building through the Untar campus.
• 12.50-13.00
  • The students’ long march was blocked right in front of the entrance to the West Jakarta Mayor’s office by a barricade of police officers with shields and batons consisting of two layers.
• 13.00-13.20
  • The front line of the task force held back the crowd, meanwhile, several student representatives (Students Senate Universitas Trisakti) negotiated with the leadership of the commandos (West Jakarta Military Commander, Lt. Col. (Inf) A Amril, and West Jakarta Police Deputy Chief). While negotiations were ongoing, the masses continued to want to move forward. On the other hand, the masses who continued to be held back could not be blocked by the line of side task forces moving forward from the right lane. Apart from that, people started to join in alongside the long march.
• 13.20-13.30
  • The negotiation team was back and explained the negotiation result was the long march didn’t allow for reason there was a possibility traffic jam would happen and could cause damage. Students were disappointed because they felt their action was a peaceful action. The masses continued forward. On the other hand, at almost the same time, 4 additional trucks of Mass Control officers (Dal-Mas) arrived.
• 13.30-14.00
  • The masses sat. Then a spontaneous free pulpit action was held on the street. The student’s peaceful actions were held in front of the former West Jakarta Mayor’s office. The situation was calm without tension between the security forces and students. Meanwhile, female students shared roses with security force lines. On the other hand, additional security forces were coming from Kodam Jaya and another police unit.
• 14.00-16.45
  • Negotiations continue with the commander (Dandim and Kapolres) and a breakthrough is also sought to contact the MPR/DPR. Meanwhile, the pulpit continued, accompanied by shouts and songs. Even though it was raining, the crowd still did not move. What happened in the end was just silence and waiting for each other. Slowly, the crowd began to thin out and headed towards campus.
  • Police set up a police line. Students are about 15 meters from the line.
• 16.45-16.55
  • Student representatives announced the results of negotiations where the result of the agreement was that both officers and students withdrew. Initially, the crowd refused but after being persuaded by the Dean of FE and the Dean of FH Usakti, Adi Andojo SH, as well as the chairman of SMUT the crowd wanted to move back.
• 16.55-17.00
  • Conversations were held with officials who suggested students return to campus. Students move onto campus calmly. The students demanded that the troops standing in a row retreat first. The West Jakarta Police Chief and Dandim fulfilled the students’ wishes. The police chief expressed his gratitude because the students were orderly. Students then dispersed slowly and orderly to campus. At that time it rained heavily.
  • Students moved back slowly and so did the officers. But suddenly a person named Mashud who claimed to be an alumnus (actually not a graduate) shouted harsh and dirty words at the crowd. This provoked the crowd to move because the person was thought to be a member of the undercover apparatus.
• 17.00-17.05
  • The person was chased by the crowd and ran towards a line of officers so that the crowd chased them into the line of officers. This created tension between the authorities and the student masses. At that time, the task force officers, the chairman of SMUT, and the Head of the Trisakti Central and Security Command detained the crowd and asked the crowd to retreat so the crowd could be controlled to calm down. Then the Head of Kamtibpus held negotiations again with the Dandim and the Police Chief so that both the student masses and the officers would both resign.
• 17.05-18.30
  • When the crowd moved to retreat back into campus, among the ranks of officers there were those who teased and laughed and said dirty words at the students so some of the student crowd turned back. Three students were provoked and intended to attack the security forces but were restrained by the Usakti student task force.
  • At the same time, a line of officers immediately attacked the student crowd with shots and threw tear gas so that the student crowd panicked and ran toward campus. When the panic occurred, the authorities carried out indiscriminate shooting, throwing tear gas on almost every side of the road, beating with clubs and butts, kicking and stomping, and sexually assaulting female students. The Chairman of SMUT who was between the officers and the student crowd, was shot by two rubber bullets in the right side of the waist.
  • Then motorized troops came wearing vests bearing the words URC and chased the students all the way to the campus gate and some of them went up to the Grogol flyover. Meanwhile, other officers ran after the crowd of students, arrested and abused several students, and then left them lying in the middle of the road. The officers continued to carry out raids by firing shots aimed at the front of the Trisakti gate. Meanwhile, officers on the flyover directed their fire at students running on campus.
  • Then some of the officers below stormed and approached the gate and formed a formation ready to shoot in two lines (squatting and standing) then shot at the students on campus. These targeted shots resulted in victims both injured and dead. Three people died instantly on campus and one other person was in hospital, several people were in critical condition. Meanwhile, fifteen people were injured and fell due to gunfire. The injured required intensive care in the hospital.
  • The authorities continued shooting from outside. Dozens of tear gas were also thrown onto campus.
• 18.30-19.00
  • The gunfire from the authorities began to subside, fellow students began to help evacuate the victims who were placed in several different places to the hospital.
• 19.00-19.30
  • Fellow students panicked again because there were several officers in dark clothes around the forest (main parking lot) and snipers on top of buildings that were still being built. Students ran back into the lecture hall or student organization room or places they felt safe such as the prayer room and immediately turned off the lights to hide.
• 19.30-20.00
  • After seeing that the situation was a little safe, students began to dare to leave the room. Then there was a dialogue with the Dean of FE to ask for certainty about their return to their respective homes. Negotiations took place between the Dean of FE and Col.Pol. Arthur Damanik, the result of which was that students could go home with the condition that they go home leaving little by little (per 5 people). Students are guaranteed to go home safely.
• 20.00-23.25
  • Even though they are still in a state of fear and trauma from seeing their colleagues fall victim, the students gradually return home.
  • Those who were seriously injured were immediately rushed to Sumber Waras Hospital. Press conference by university leaders. Members of Komnas HAM came to the location.
• 01.30
  • Press conference for Pangdam Jaya Mayjen. TNI Sjafrie Sjamsoedin at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters. Present at the press conference were Pangdam Jaya Mayjen TNI Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Regional Police Chief Major General (Pol) Hamami Nata, Rector of Trisakti Prof. Dr. R. Moedanton Moertedjo, and two members of the National Human Rights Commission, AA Baramuli and Bambang W. Soeharto.