ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

May 1998 riots of Indonesia

The May 1998 riots of Indonesia happened a long time ago. It was a time when people in Indonesia were very angry and upset because their country was not doing well. People were not happy with the government because they felt that it was corrupt and unfair. They also did not have enough money to buy the things they needed, like food and clothes.

Some people blamed a certain group of the population for the problems the country was facing. These people were mostly Chinese Indonesians who were seen as being rich and successful. Some angry people started to attack and loot the stores and homes of the Chinese Indonesians. This is called a riot.

The riot got worse and worse, and soon many people were hurt or killed. The government tried to stop the riot by using police and military force, but it was hard to control the angry mob.

The riot ended after many days of chaos, and many people were left with nothing. The Chinese Indonesians who were hurt or lost everything had to start over again. It was a very sad time for many people in Indonesia.

Today, many people remember the May 1998 riots as a time of great tragedy and loss. People hope that it will never happen again, and that the government will work harder to keep their country peaceful and prosperous.