User:Keshia andreani

The murder case of Chung Susilo, known as Chung, an Indonesian human rights activist in 1998 remains a mystery. The case which happened in 1998 raised theories and still is a big question mark to the Indonesian community.

Early life
Chung Susilo was born on a Sunday in Shanghai, China. February 26, 1981 to be exact. Her family tried their best to raise her, despite harsh living conditions under poverty. This was a big concern for her Parents Martyne and Karoline Chung, which led to a difficult decision. Chung and her family, including her parents as well as her sister Jessica moved from China to live in Indonesia for a better life, leaving her deep family roots back in mainland China.

Background
Chung spent her childhood differently from other children, including her sister Jessica. Chung would sit on the couch and watch the news while Jessica looked for butterflies in the field. In the eyes of her parents, rainbows and joy doesn’t describe Chung, but she always sees color in the sheets of monochrome colored paper telling her stories just like the news would.

In 1994, Chung attended middle school at Viani Middle School, where she grew a passion in journalism and was deeply interested in human rights. At this stage of her life, conflicts of politics and social increased rapidly towards the end of the New Order. This was a devastating yet an advantage for a curious and young Chung.

After completing middle school in 1995, Chung took activism seriously and began to reach those affected by the conflict. This action of hers reached its peak when she interviewed some crucial witnesses. Soon Chung was often questioned by those behind the conflicts, thus compromising her safety.

Death and aftermath
At the age of 18, a senior year for Chung in JMBL Senior High School Jakarta turned into the worst nightmare, a year meant for gloom, turned into doom. On October 9, 1998, the bloody corpse of Chung was found in her bedroom inside her house located in Central Jakarta. Her body lies in a pool of blood, with her stomach, chest, and right arm stabbed ten times, while her neck was slashed. The murder occurred just three days after a Jakarta press conference held by the human rights organizations Chung had been involved with. The groups claimed that several of their members had received death threats in an attempt to stop them calling for an international investigation into the gang-rapes, murder, and burning of Indonesian Chinese girls and women during the May 1998 riot, a riot which ultimately forced the president, Soeharto, to step down from the presidency.

Chung's murder remains unsolved to date, and stands as a reminder of how elusive justice still is for victims of the tragedy.

Police concluded that Chung's death was an ordinary crime, committed by a drug addict who had entered Chung's home to rob it. According to the police statement, he was caught in the act by Chung and therefore decided to kill her. However, others question this statement because Chung and her mother, Karoline Chung, were due to leave in a few days for the United Kingdom together with four victims of the May 1998 riot to present their testimony before the U.S. Congress. Chung and her mother had been deeply involved in giving help and counseling to the victims of the riot.

The group Chung and her mother had worked most closely with, an organization called Voluntary Team for Humanity, concluded that Chung's murder was a warning to them and others who were involved in this humanitarian effort, to discontinue their activities.

Chung’s death was remembered by many. Her bravery reminded them to stand on what matters the most.

Finally, Chung was moved back to China in the year 1999 after her cremation. Her family still strives for justice and human rights. Jessica, Chung’s sister, continued her legacy, whereas the other parts of Indonesia appreciate her efforts in this battle against inhuman government.

Impact
Nowadays, her acts of integrity and bravery are kept as a memory in the form of a statue. The statue of Chung Susilo could be found in front of the Voluntary Team for Humanity’s office in the heart of Jakarta.

Chung can be a reminder for us that there should not be another Chung, or any other victims, from a tragedy that might recur in the future.