Jakarta Riots of May 1998 were triggered by economic problems like food shortages and mass unemployment in Indonesia. The Indonesian currency Rupiah collapsed and prices of basic goods skyrocketed. Students took to the streets in Jakarta and protested against then President Suharto. Despite the promise of election next year, they refused to return to their campuses. Especially Trisakti University stood out in the riots. Students tore down the gates of Indonesia's parliament. Also many buildings were destroyed, the main target were shops and cars owned by ethnic-Chinese (Indonesian Chinese) who were blamed for the economic situation. There were also reports of mass rapes of ethnic Chinese women. Fearing for their lives, many ethnic Chinese fled the country. Ethnic Chinese make up about 3-5% of Indonesia's population.
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See also
Indonesian_1998_Revolution
