1997 Banjarmasin riot

1997 riot against Golkar supporters and minorities in Indonesia thumb|Mass grave of the victims of the 1997 Banjarmasin Riots in the Landasan Ulin, Banjarbaru. The Banjarmasin riot of May 1997 took place on May 23, 1997, on the last day of the election campaign for the 1997 Indonesian legislative election. In strongly Islamic Banjarmasin, supporters of the PPP were aggravated by perceived abuses of power by the ruling Golkar party. After Friday prayers, thousands of people attacked supporters heading to a Golkar rally. The ensuing violence resulted in the killing of several Golkar supporters, as well as attacks on the interests of big businesses, Christians, and the Chinese. A Batak Protestant Church, close to a large mosque, and its neighbouring Chinese-owned houses were burned, as well as the Catholic Saint Mary's Cathedral, two other Catholic churches, several Catholic schools, and a home for the elderly. In addition, 8 shopping malls, Lima Cahaya department store (the largest in the area at the time), Chinese-owned businesses, and churches of seven denominations, a Buddhist temple, two hotels, 21 cars, 130 houses, and four government buildings were damaged or destroyed.Closing day riot, The Nation – Jun 2, 1997In Indonesia, A Deadly End To a Campaign – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1997-05-26). Retrieved on 2011-06-12.Refworld | Chronology for Chinese in Indonesia. UNHCR (1999-06-07). Retrieved on 2011-06-12.As Indonesia holds an election, a small town in Borneo burns – News. The Independent (1997-05-25). Retrieved on 2011-06-12. In total, at least 137 people were killed, mostly on the second floor of the Mitra Plaza mall, which had been occupied by looters reluctant to surrender to the surrounding police.130 looters die in fire during Indonesian riot – CNN https://web.archive.org/web/20120406042644/http://articles.cnn.com/1997-05-25/world/9705_25_indo.elex_1_mitra-plaza-rioting-police-and-troops?_s=PM:WORLD 2012-04-06 . Articles.cnn.com (1997-05-25). Retrieved on 2011-06-12. References External links Anarki Enam Jam: Rekonstruksi Kerusuhan Jumat Membara di Banjarmasin Indonesia Category:1997 crimes in Indonesia Category:1997 mass murders Category:May 1997 in Indonesia Category:1997 riots Category:Anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia Category:Political violence in Indonesia Category:Anti-Christian riots Category:Banjarmasin Category:History of South Kalimantan Category:Riots and civil disorder in Indonesia Category:Persecution of Christians by Muslims Category:1990s political riots Category:Persecution of Christians in Indonesia Category:20th-century mass murders in Indonesia Category:Anti-Chinese violence in Asia Category:Attacks on churches in Indonesia Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1997 Category:1997 in Christianity Category:1997 in Islam Category:Electoral violence Category:Looting in Indonesia Category:Arson in Indonesia Category:Arson in 1997 Category:1990s fires in Asia Category:Church arson in Asia