BUSINESS SUMMARY Mittal Steel Company N.V., through its subsidiaries, produces steel worldwide. Its products primarily includes hot-rolled and cold-rolled sheets, plates, electro-galvanized and coated steel, bars, wire rods, wire products, pipes, billets, blooms, slabs, tinplate, structural sections, and rails. Hot-rolled sheet is used for manufacturing automobile suspension arms, frames, wheels, and other unexposed parts in auto and truck bodies, agricultural equipment, construction products, machinery, tubing, pipe, and guard rails. Profile Mittal Steel Company NV15th Floor Hofplein 20Rotterdam, 3032 ACNetherlands – MapPhone: 31 10 217 8800Fax: 31 10 217 8850Web Site: http://www.mittalsteel.comMr. Lakshmi N. Mittal , 55Founder, Chairman, Chief Exec. Officer and Chairman of LNM Holdings N.V. Mr. Aditya Mittal , 30Pres, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Fin., Director of Ispat Unimetal Mr. Malay Mukherjee , 58Chief Operating Officer, Managing Director of Ispat Mexicana S A de C V and Managing Director of Ispat Karmet JSC (’Ispat Karmet’) Mr. Benoit Alain , 42Chief Financial Officer of Ispat Sidbec, Vice-Pres of Fin. – Ispat Sidbec of Ispat Inland ULC Mr. John L. Brett , 40VP of Fin. – Ispat Inland Inc. of Ispat Inland ULC DETAILS Index Membership: N/A Sector: Basic Materials Industry: Steel & Iron Full Time Employees: 224,286 Cold-rolled steel is used in exposed automobile and appliance panels. Coated sheet is used in automobile exteriors, household appliances, roofing and siding, heating and air conditioning equipment, air ducts, and switch boxes, as well as in food containers. Plates are used for bridge construction, storage vessels, tanks, shipbuilding, line pipe, and industrial machinery and equipment. Bars are used by fabricators to manufacture furniture, stair railings, and farm equipment. Wire rod is used in the automotive, construction, welding, and engineering sectors. Wire products are used in fasteners, springs, concrete wire, electrical conductors, and structural cables. Billets and blooms are used to produce bars and wire rod sections. Slabs are used as a starting material in the production process of other flat products. Tinplate is used for packaging, and in making food and general line steel containers. Structural sections are used in the construction industry and in other structural applications. Rails are used for railway rails, as well as for various industrial applications, including rails for construction cranes. The company was founded in 1989 by Lakshmi N. Mittal. It was formerly known as Ispat International N.V. and changed to Mittal Steel Company N.V. in 2004. Mittal Steel Company is based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. ==================================================Ajax blog computer domain India hosting job IT marriage shaadi science technology

Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Group can be labelled as the most ambitious telecom entrepreneur in India. Sunil a former student of Harvard Business School graduated from Punjab University. The son of a parliamentarian, Sunil did not want to follow his father’s footsteps. He had shown an interest in business even from his teenage days. So after graduation, Sunil got together with his friend and formed a small bicycle business with borrowed capital in the1970s. But by 1979, he realized that this business would remain small. So he moved out of Ludhiana, spent a few years in Mumbai and in 1981, was running an import and distribution operation out of New Delhi and Mumbai. By 1982, Mittal had started a full-fledged business selling portable generators imported from Japan and that gave him the chance to involve himself in activities like marketing and advertising. Things went smoothly until the government banned the import of generators as two Indian companies were awarded licenses to manufacture generators locally. Sunil Mittal got interested in push button phones while on a trip to Taiwan, and in 1982, introduced the phones to India, replacing the old fashioned, bulky rotary phones that were in use in the country then. Bharti Telecom Limited (BTL) was incorporated and entered into a technical tie up with Siemens AG of Germany for manufacture of electronic push button phones. By the early 1990s, Mittal was making fax machines, cordless phones and other telecom gear. The turning point came in 1992 when the Indian government was awarding licenses for mobile phone services for the first time. One of the conditions for the Delhi cellular license was that the bidder have some experience as a telecom operator. Mittal clinched a deal with the French telecom group Vivendi. Two years later, Sunil secured rights to serve New Delhi. In 1995, Bharti Cellular Limited (BCL) was formed to offer cellular services under the brand name AirTel. Within a few years Bharti became the first telecom company to cross the 2-million mobile subscriber mark. The company is also instrumental in bringing down the high STD/ISD, cellular rates in the country by rolling the countries first private national as well as international long-distance service under the brand name IndiaOne. In 2001, the company entered into a joint venture with Singapore Telecom International for a $650-million ubmarine cable project, the countries first ever undersea cable link connecting Chennai in India and Singapore.Always on the move and making an impact and excelling in whatever he did, this clear thinking risk taker has changed the face of the Indian ICT space. For his contributions he has been honoured with several awards. He was chosen as one of the top entrepreneurs in the world for the year 2000 and amongst ‘Stars Of Asia’, by ‘Business Week’, he received IT Man of the Year Award 2002 from Dataquest and CEO Of the Year, 2002 Award (World HRD Congress). He is the member of National Council of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Chairman, Indo-US Joint Business Council, Member, Advisory Committee constituted by Ministry of IT. Mittal has to his credit the breaking up of the 100 year old monopoly of state run companies to operate telecom services in India. Now he heads a successful empire focused on different areas of business through independent Joint Venture companies with a market capitalization of approximately $ 2 billion, employing over 5,000 people and still growing. Bharti Foundation has funded over 50 schools in Madhya Pradesh and also donated Rs 200 million to IIT Delhi for building a Bharti School of Technology and Management.In spite of his deep involvement in work, Mittal the man, is calm, seldom ruffled and very down to earth. He says he achieves a sense of detachment and peace with regular practice of yoga. He is thankful for a supportive family including a daughter and twin sons, with whom understandably he doesn’t get much time to spend. His brothers Rakesh and Rajan are with him in the business.Courtesy==================================================Ajax blog computer domain India hosting job IT marriage shaadi science technology

To create a marquee or moving text is easy. Simply copy and paste the following code into your sidebar blog (using widget text for wordpress or html/javascript gadget for blogger.com / blogspot):

<MARQUEE align="center" direction="up" height="200" scrollamount= "2"
onmouseover=’this.stop()’ onmouseout=’this.start()’ width="100%">

put texts or links here

</MARQUEE>

A. MARQUEE FOR LINKS (COPY/PASTE and CHANGE THE LINKS WHENEVER NECESSARY)

<MARQUEE align="center" direction="up" height="200" scrollamount= "2" onmouseover=’this.stop()’ onmouseout=’this.start()’ width="100%">
<a href="http://fatihsyuhud.com" target="new">- Blogger Indonesia -</a>
<a href="http://afatih.wordpress.com target="new">- Refleksi dan Blog Tutorial -</a>
<a href="http://www.jobvacancycareer.com/ target="new">- Jobs Info -</a>
<a href="http://www.beasiswas.com/ target="new">- Beasiswa -</a>
<a href="http://www.beasiswas.net/ target="new">- Beasiswa -</a>
<a href="http://www.beasiswas.info/ target="new">- Beasiswa -</a>
<a href="http://www.beasiswas.org/ target="new">- Beasiswa -</a>
<a href="http://lowonganbeasiswa.com/ target="new">- Beasiswa -</a>
<a href="http://beasiswa.blogs.ie/ target="new">- Beasiswa -</a>
<a href="http://www.lowongankerjas.com/ target="new">- Loker -</a>
<a href="http://www.lowongankerjas.net/ target="new">- Loker -</a>
<a href="http://www.lowongankerjas.org/ target="new">- Loker -</a>

</MARQUEE>

B. MARQUEE FOR TEXT (COPY / PASTE)

<MARQUEE align="center" direction="up" height="200" scrollamount= "2"
onmouseover=’this.stop()’ onmouseout=’this.start()’ width="100%">

I’d love to see many more Indonesian bloggers blog in English, the most-widely-understood world language. So that the world knows and understands more about Indonesia by reading anything written by Blogger Indonesia.
<br /><br />

Don’t let your voice echoes only in your backyard.

</MARQUEE>

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. tag or code “direction=”up” means that the text will be moving up, you can change it into “down” to make it moving down. Also, you may change it into “left” or “right” to make it moving left or right respectively.

2. Marquee can only work in blogger.com / blogspot and self-hosted wordpress; NOT in wordpress.com.

Indonesia blogosphere this last two years has witnessed the growing and heartening development of good blogging and quality bloggers to cheer about. This, for most reason, due to the emergence of some Indonesian intellectuals, writers and journalists who start showing their interests to blog. I have some of good bloggers featured in the Indonesian Blogger of the Week.

Some other reasons as to why they are interested to blog are (a) the full-fledge democracy with freedom of expression attached to it and at the same time (b) the space-limit and tendentious and sometimes bias decision on the part of mainstream media in publishing an op-ed article are seen as factors which are contributing to their growing interest to blog. The infuence of globalization, of course, cannot be ignored.

Despite the full freedom we enjoy, however, another kind of “repression of freedom” comes not from the government. Instead, it comes from individual(s) or militant organisation who feel “annoyed” by critical postings of some bloggers.

Yosef Ardi , for example, who is blogging regularly on Indonesian riches and VIPs, once commented in Enda’s blog that he had received “complains” from three conglomerates regarding his posts.

While Indonesia Anonymus, also a journalist like Yosef Ardi, told us that he just received 127 hatemails with different addresses and different contents but he believes it came from the same individual or organisation, apparently from a militant organisation member. He reposts the hatemails after he translate it into English. Many comments of sympathy and supports in his “hatemails post”. Here are some of those.
An anonymous commenter said:
Keep on blogging, never mind those hatemails. We need to show the world that we ‘Indonesians’ are not just a bunch of fanatics. We’re once known as an open minded people. So, let’s prove that to the world. For that person(s) who sent those hatemails, shame on you for trying to force your own opinion upon others. Instead of putting to much energy into non essential matters, why don’t we put our minds together to fight the rising poverties in Indonesia ?
Andry said:
Well, from the way I see it you already knew how risky blog is at the first place. Despite of your “dancing words” I love to learn one or two things from this blog because you have a gut. Writing for popular demand –pleasing everyone—wouldn’t take us nowhere but writing our opinion (with true intention, I trust you) draws controversy but in time build a credibility.
Is Indonesia politics going more to Right?

Martin Manurung, one of new emerging insightful blogger highlight the current tendency of Indonesia’s politics which he thinks is going more to right (read, religious conservatism). He supports his analytical view with a table on 2004 Election Result Based on Political Parties’ Ideologies which will give his readers more clear picture on current trend on Indonesia’s politics. He’s, and all of us, understandably worried if the current Indonesia political trend is increasing, especially in the context of freedom of expression safety in case Indonesian people vote for the right wing parties in mass-scale in the coming general and provincial election.

Asia Blog Awards: Indonesia
Well, with the growing good and quality blogs, I think Jakartass, who is been busy nowadays as the judge for Asia Blog Awards Indonesia category will be excited in seeing the growing quality blog and at the same time confused to pick one.

Gotong Royong: 2001 to TodayJuly 2001July 26 Abdurrahman Wahid leaves for Baltimore, Maryland, USA for medical treatment. July 26 Hamzah Haz is selected Vice-President by the Assembly. July 26 Supreme Court judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita is assassinated by two gunmen on motorcycles in Central Jakarta. July 30 Floods and landslides hit Nias; governor of Sumatera Utara province blames deforestation for the disaster. July 31 Supreme Court rules that the charges against the Golkar party (which would have led to the dissolution of the party) should be dropped. Help the People of Aceh President Megawati Sukarnoputri meeting with President Arroyo of the Philippines in November 2001. August 2001August 1 Bombing in Jakarta at Atrium Senen shopping plaza. August 6 Police seize guns, grenades and ammo at Jakarta residences that had been rented by Tommy Suharto. August 8 U.S.-owned Caltex oil operations in Riau offer a package of job offers for local residents and community development funds in order to avoid a planned blockade by protesters. Local activists had demanded a 70% stake in the operations. August 9 President Megawati announces her new cabinet (”Gotong Royong or Mutual Cooperation Cabinet”). August 9 A gun battle breaks out on a plantation in eastern Aceh; nine are killed. August 10 Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (Tutut), daughter of former president Suharto, is questioned by police for five hours regarding the disappearance of her brother Tommy. August 12 Australian Prime Minister Howard visits Jakarta. August 13 Ari Sigit Harjodjudanto, grandson of former president Suharto, is arrested. August 14 President Megawati appoints Muhammad Abdurrahman as Attorney General. August 17 President Megawati offers an apology to residents of Aceh and West Papua for human rights violations in the past. August 17 Violence in Aceh during Independence Day celebrations includes widespread rioting and bombing and several deaths. Four banks are bombed; as many as 60 schools are burnt. August 20 Two men are sentenced to 20 years in prison each in connection with the Stock Exchange bombing of the previous September. August 21 President Megawati leaves for the Philippines on her first foreign diplomatic tour. August 22 A delegation of cabinet ministers visits Aceh to evaluate the situation there. August 23 A government exhibition on development in Banda Aceh is bombed, and a local military commander is assassinated in Aceh. August 27 A small group of Islamic fundamentalists demonstrates against President Megawati in Jakarta, claiming that a woman should not be President. August 27 Indonesian government signs Letter of Intent with the International Monetary Fund. The agreement releases US$400 million of an eventual US$5 billion loan from the IMF to Indonesia. August 27 The Norwegien freighter Tampa rescues over 400 Middle Eastern migrants from the sinking Indonesian ship KM Palapa 1. The migrants were leaving Indonesia and attempting to enter Australia. Australia refuses entry to the migrants, who eventually end up in Nauru. August 29 The captain and five crew members of the ship Ocean Silver are taken hostage in the Straits of Malacca by members of Gerakan Aceh Merdeka and held for a Rp300 million ransom. September 2001September 2 Train accident near Cirebon kills 40. September 6 Rector of Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh is assassinated. September 7 President Megawati presents the 2002 budget to the Assembly. The budget assumes economic growth and lower debt burdens in the coming year. September 9 President Megawati visits Aceh for a meeting with community leaders. Just after the meeting, members of Gerakan Aceh Merdeka kidnap the community leaders at gunpoint for 24 hours. September 16 A private argument between Army privates and police officers in Madiun breaks out in shooting; two civilians are killed in the crossfire. September 18 Former vice-president and retired Gen. Try Sutrisno makes an out-of-court agreement with family members of victims of the Tanjung Priok violence of 1984. September 18 President Megawati arrives in Washington on a state visit. Megawati condems the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. The U.S. and Indonesia agree to restore some military ties which had previously been cancelled over the issue of East Timor. The U.S. also pledges another US$150 million in aid to Indonesia to support legal reforms, reconstruction and refugee assistance in Maluku and Aceh, and police training. September 21 U.S. Ambassador Gelbard asks for police protection for the U.S. Embassy against anti-U.S. demonstrations. September 23 Bombing in Jakarta at Atrium Senen shopping plaza. September 23 Islamic radicals conduct a “sweep” for foreigners, particularly U.S. citizens, through Surakarta and Jepara, threatening them if they do not agree to leave the country. Police vow to stop such “sweeps” in the future. September 24 Suripto, former head of the government’s Forestry and Plantations Department, wins a Rp500 million judgment against former president Wahid. Wahid had accused Suripto of corruption and of helping Tommy Suharto escape the police; Suripto claimed that the charges were false and had damaged his reputation. September 27 Small demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta includes calls to kill the U.S. Ambassador. September 28 PT Garuda Indonesia, the national airline, requests an extra insurance bond from the Finance Ministry due to the crisis in international air travel after the terrorist attacks in the U.S. September 28 Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil tells the U.S. Ambassador that the safety of U.S. citizens in Indonesia will be protected by the government. September 28 Ilaga town in West Papua province is burned down by OPM supporters. In September 2001, relations with Australia were strained over the issue of illegal immigrants who were using Indonesia as a base for entry into Australia. October 2001October 1 Supreme Court dismisses case against Tommy Suharto involving corrupt land deals and Bulog. October 4 Cabinet meeting results in broad government decision to prohibit excessive demonstrations and acts of violence against foreigners, and to prohibit Indonesian citizens from joining foreign military services at war. October 7 Garment factories in Semarang lay off 1200 workers. Footwear and electronic factories also report slowdowns. October 8 Indonesian government expresses concern over the U.S. actions in Afghanistan, and asks the U.N. to pay attention to humanitarian issues there. Partai Keadilan members demonstrate at the U.S. Embassy. Islamic fundamentalists in Lashkar Jihad and other radical groups threaten to attack U.S. citizens on Indonesian soil. October 13 Vice-President Hamzah Haz criticizes the U.S. actions in Afghanistan. Police arrest over 60 demonstrators on weapons charges. October 14 President Megawati gives a speech at Masjid Istiqlal indirectly criticizing the U.S. actions in Afghanistan. October 15 Police disperse anti-U.S. demonstrators at the Assembly building in Jakarta. October 19 Partai Keadilan members demonstrate again at the U.S. Embassy. Hamzah Haz asks for a stop to demonstrations and to calls for boycotts against the U.S. October 19 A boat loaded with illegal migrants from the Middle East headed for Australia sinks off southern Java; over 350 drown. October 20 Nations at the APEC economic meeting in Shanghai pass an anti-terrorism resolution; Indonesia supports the resolution. October 23 Floods in Central Java leave 20,000 homeless. October 26 Three killed in a train collision near Banten. October 26 Assembly Chair Akbar Tanjung is called to testify in the ongoing investigation of corruption at Bulog. October 26 A gang of Iraqi migrants hijacks a ship from Ujung Pandang in an attempt to enter Australia. October 29 Activities of Bank Unibank are frozen by the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency. October 31 Attorney General’s office questions Akbar Tanjung and retired Gen. Wiranto regarding the Bulog investigation. October 31 Assembly committee reaches agreement on recommendations for constitutional changes, including allowing the direct election of the President and Vice-President. Hamzah Haz, from the PPP party, Vice-President in Megawati’s administration. November 2001November 1 President Megawati, addressing the Assembly (MPR), calls for a ceasefire in Afghanistan. November 5 Assembly factions meeting in joint session agree on principles for creating a new Regional Assembly. November 6 Assembly factions meeting in joint session agree to create a new Court of Constitutional Law. November 6 Attorney General’s office sends a request to Bank Indonesia to freeze the funds of any persons or groups suspected of having ties to international terrorism. November 6 ASEAN nations and China agree to form a regional free trade zone within ten years. November 7 Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji visits Jakarta. November 8 Member nations of the Consultative Group on Indonesia approve a US$3.14 billion loan to cover the Indonesian government’s budget deficit for 2002. November 9 Assembly adjourns without taking action on the constitutional changes that were agreed to in committee. November 11 Theys Eluay, leader of the independence movement for Papua (Irian Jaya), is found dead in a town east of Jayapura. The body was found in a crashed vehicle with police license plates, and showed signs of beating. Scattered rioting breaks out around Jayapura. November 12 TNI officials in Jakarta deny that the Army was involved in the killing of Theys Eluay. Peaceful demonstrations are held in Jayapura. November 12 Ja’Far Umar Thalib, leader of the Laskar Jihad extremist group, says in an interview that his organization had been offered money and weapons by Osama bin Laden five years earlier, but that the offer was turned down. November 12 President Megawati meets with Philippine President Arroyo in Jakarta. November 13 President Megawati demands an investigation into the killing of Theys Eluay. November 18 Spanish police arrest eight persons in Madrid with links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network. Police there report that among the evidence seized is information about an al-Qaeda training camp in Indonesia. November 19 Indonesia offers to send peacekeeping troops to Afghanistan. November 20 Former finance director of Bulog testifies in a hearing at the Attorney General’s office that he witnessed the transfer of Rp 40 billion to Akbar Tanjung. Akbar Tanjung denies receiving the funds personally. November 26 A report issued after a meeting between Assembly members and Finance Minister Boediono states that as much as 40 percent of funds intended for local governments are misappropriated. Vice-President Hamzah Haz requests an investigation the next day. November 26 Army announces that it will send 30,000 reinforcements to units fighting separatists and intercommunal violence in Aceh, Maluku, Papua, and Kalimantan. November 28 Laskar Jihad fighters burn four Christian villages near Poso, Sulawesi Tengah. At least 3 are killed; as many as 40,000 are made refugees. November 28 Tommy Suharto (Hutomo Mandala Putra) is found and arrested by police in Tangerang. November 29 General Da’i Bachtiar takes office as the new head of the national Police. November 29 Government announces intention to pursue charges against Tommy Suharto, including involvement in the killing of Judge Kartasasmita, possession of weapons and explosives, involvement in the bombing at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, and fleeing arrest. December 2001December 2 Attorneys for Tommy Suharto claim that he had paid money to former President Wahid in exchange for special legal treatment. Officials of Wahid’s PKB party deny the allegations. December 5 Security Minister Yudhoyono visits Poso, Sulawesi Tengah, amid continuing violence there. December 10 After several delays, the Assembly appoints a team to investigate misuse of Bulog funds. December 11 Former President Habibie, in Germany, is questioned by Indonesian prosecutors regarding the Bulog funds investigation. Habibie tells them that he instructed Akbar Tanjung to disburse Rp 40 million in food aid to the poor in February 1999, but never received a report back on the disbursements. December 11 Government declares intent to allow large businesses with agreements to repay their restructuring debts to the government over four years to extend their repayments over ten years. The decision is broadly criticized as being costly to the government. December 12 Army spokesman states that camps for extremist Islamic militants on Sulawesi have had ties with the international al-Qaeda network in the past. December 20 Leaders of Muslim and Christian communities around Poso, Sulawesi Tengah, issue a declaration agreeing to end three years of intercommunal fighting. December 25 Three separate train accidents on the same day on Java kill a total of 33 people. December 27 Bank Indonesia instructs all banks to issue monthly financial reports to the public. December 27 Dispute between Police and Army units in Ambon results in an exchange of weapons fire. December 28 Board of Kereta Api Indonesia (national railways) resigns in an attempt to restore public confidence. December 30 Severe flooding hits the region around Asahan and Medan on Sumatra. During the first half of December, the Army sent over 3,000 fresh security forces to the area around Poso, Sulawesi Tengah, to help stop the continuing violence between Christians and Muslims there. Over 1,000 had been killed in the violence there in the previous two years. January 2002January 2 Government begins instituting price increases for electricity, oil products, and telephone services. Kerosene shortages break out in scattered communities. January 8 PDI-P members of the Assembly request that Akbar Tanjung resign as Speaker. Amien Rais joins the calls for Akbar Tanjung’s resignation the next day. January 11 President Megawati meets with the head of Bulog regarding steeply rising rice prices. January 14 Flooding again hits Medan and Deli in Sumatera Utara. January 16 District assembly for Surabaya declares the Mayor of Surabaya, Sunarto Sumoprawiro, unfit to hold office. January 16 A Garuda plane makes an emergency landing in the Solo River near Surakarta; one killed. January 17 Government raises the domestic price of oil by 22 percent; future prices are to be adjusted according to international market prices. January 17 Fathur Rohman, an Indonesian citizen, is arrested in Manila in connection with fatal terrorist bombings there in December 2000. He admits to being a member of the Jemaah Islamiya terrorist group. The arrest leads Philippine police to a house in General Santos, Mindanao, containing over a ton of explosives. He is later tried and found guilty. January 20 PKB conference in Yogya opens membership in the party to persons who are not members of Nahdlatul Ulama, including non-Muslims. January 22 Army security forces attack a Gerakan Aceh Merdeka headquarters in the hills near Pidie; Teungku Abdullah Syafi’e, leader of GAM, is killed. January 22 Home Affairs Minister Sabarno states that the district assembly for Surabaya has no authority to remove the Mayor. January 28 Independent legal team is announced with the goal of determining the status of the Mayor of Surabaya. January 28 Golkar Party leadership appoints “Team of Five” or “Rescue Team” to protect the party’s future and integrity as charges are brought against Akbar Tanjung. January 29 Severe flooding hits the greater Jakarta area and nearby areas of Jawa Barat, lasting for several days. Thousands leave their homes; distribution of food and supplies is disrupted. January 31 Flooding hits Madura. Price increases for kerosene, a staple fuel in many households, were controversial, even though the subsidized price for kerosene was less than half the price for kerosene in neighboring Malaysia. February 2002February 2 Indonesian government and Gerakan Aceh Merdeka begin new round of talks in Geneva. February 5 Floods hit the area around Situbondo in Jawa Timur; several dozen are left dead, thousands homeless. February 5 Assembly committee votes to deny an official reception for Australian Prime Minister Howard, in protest of Australia’s interference in internal Indonesian affairs. February 5 Akbar Tanjung testifies in a hearing at the Attorney General’s office about the distribution of Bulog funds in 1999, stating that everything was done according to former President Habibie’s policies. February 8 Students protest as Australian P.M. Howard visits Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. February 11 Muslim and Christian community leaders from Maluku meet at Malino, Sulawesi Selatan, to explore a possible end to the conflict in Maluku. A preliminary agreement is reached the next day. February 17 Floods hit near Pekalongan, Jawa Tengah, washing out the mail railway along the north coast of Java. February 18 President Megawati makes Chinese New Year a national holiday. February 18 Senior Minister Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore criticizes Indonesia, saying that leaders of the Jemaah Islamiya and al-Qaeda terrorist networks operate freely in Indonesia and pose a security threat to Singapore. February 20 Tommy Suharto is placed in custody in Cipinang Prison in Jakarta. February 25 Former President Habibie testifies again at the Attorny General’s office regarding the misuse of Bulog funds for food aid for the poor. February 27 Muslim and Christian residents of villages near Ambon hold a peace parade. Flooding in the Jakarta area led to greater discussions of uncontrolled building both in the area and in the hills to the sound, and calls for better planning and smarter development. March 2002March 1 Rahardi Ramelan, former head of Bulog, is arrested. March 5 Government backs down on its plan to allow large businesses with agreements to repay their restructuring debts to the government over four years to extend their repayments over ten years. March 5 Demonstration by Muslim activists at the office of the Governor of Maluku in Ambon breaks down into violence. March 7 Akbar Tanjung and two others are taken into custody for 20 days in connection with the ongoing Bulog investigation. March 7 Tommy Suharto is charged with murder in connection with the killing of Judge Kartasasmita. March 8 Attorneys for Akbar Tanjung and members of the Golkar Party leadership ask that Akbar Tanjung’s be released on his own recognizance, with the condition that he not leave Jakarta. March 11 Winfried Simatupang, one of the suspects in the ongoing Bulog investigation, returns Rp 32 billion of the missing funds, and offers to return the remainder, in contradiction to his previous statements that the money had already been spent to buy food aid for the poor. March 13 Governor of Bank Indonesia Syahril Sabirin is sentenced to three years in prison for corruption in the Bank Bali scandal. He says he will appeal and refuses to step down. March 13 Former President Wahid suggests in a panel discussion in Yogyakarta that more public figures will become suspects in the Bulog investigation. March 14 Controlling interest in Bank Central Asia is sold by the government to the Farallon Consortium. March 15 Former East Timor Governor Abilio Soares and former East Timor Police Chief Timbul Silaen go on trial for human rights violations during the 1999 referendum. March 19 Five military and police officers go on trial for charges related to a massacre at a church in Suai, East Timor, in September 1999. March 20 Tommy Suharto goes on trial in Jakarta. March 20 Vice-President Hamzah Haz states that there is no plan to place U.S. military forces in Indonesia, in reply to unsubstantiated reports in the U.S. press. U.S. officials deny the reports two days later. March 21 Philippine police arrest three Indonesian citizens in Manila for possession of explosives and suspicion of planning terrorist activities. One of them, Tamsil Linrung, had been active in Assembly Speaker Amien Rais’ PAN party. Linrung and one of the other suspects are released at the request of the Indonesian government. March 24 President Megawati leaves on a state visit to China, North Korea, and India. While away, she criticizes Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories. China offers US$400 million in loans. March 26 Investigators report to a commission of the Assembly that at least 44 persons or institutions had taken Bulog funds illegally between 1993 and 2000, and that the list of suspects had been delivered to former Attorney General Marzuki Darusman in August 2000, but no action had been taken. April 2002April 3 Fatal bombing in Ambon is followed by a fire which burns down the Governor’s office. April 4 Ret. Gen. Wiranto testifies as a witness in the trial of Soares and Silaen, stating that in his view the violence in East Timor in September 1999 occurred after the departure of Indonesian military and police forces due to the lack of any law enforcement. April 5 Court releases Akbar Tanjung from detention pending the outcome of his trial. The other defendants in the Bulog-related cases remain in custody. April 9 Police reveal that five suspected members of the al-Qaeda terrorist network had arrived in Medan with Singaporean passports the previous January 6, but that their current whereabouts remain unknown. Officials in Singapore accused one of the five of unsuccessfully planning a terrorist attack on Changi Airport in Singapore. April 10 Military police arrest three officers for the killing of Theys Eluay. April 12 Indonesia reaches an agreement with the “Paris Club” group of nations to restructure US$5.4 billion of its foreign debt, including interest payments. The rupiah and stock prices rise on the news. April 15 Joint delegation of Christian and Muslim religious leaders visits Ambon to support the peace process. April 17 Police take Alex Manuputty, leader of the Front for Moluccan Sovereignty (a Christian faction in Ambon), into custody for questioning. April 20 Vice-President Hamzah Haz tells reporters that Indonesia’s national debt has reached Rp 1.3 trillion. April 25 Local Christian and Muslim residents organize unsuccessful patrols to prevent members of the Front for Maluku Sovereignty from holding a ceremonies to raise the flag of the Republik Maluku Selatan (Republic of the South Moluccas) from the 1940s. Scattered violence breaks out. April 28 12 are killed in fighting on the outskirts of Ambon. April 30 Dadang Sukandar testifies in court that the official report on the distribution of Bulog funds for food aid to the poor was fiction, as well as several other official reports on the disbursement of funds. May 2002May 3 Government forces conduct a sweep of private residences in Ambon, searching for weapons. May 4 Police in Surabaya arrest Ja’Far Umar Thalib, leader of the extremist Laskar Jihad movement, which had sent weapons and fighters to Ambon and Maluku. May 7 Vice-President Hamzah Haz visits Ja’Far Umar Thalib in jail. May 8 Winfried Simatupang testifies in court that the return of Rp 40 billion in Bulog funds was part of a plan to rescue Akbar Tanjung from the case. May 8 Two gunmen are sentenced to life in prison for the killing of Judge Kartasasmita in July 2001. May 8 Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines sign an agreement to fight terrorist activities jointly. May 15 Four are wounded by gunfire in a dispute between Army forces and Police in Ambon. May 15 Assembly speaker Amien Rais holds an informal meeting at his residence with members of the chief Islamic parties in the Assembly (PKB, PPP, and his own PAN). May 19 President Megawati attends ceremonies in Dili, East Timor, as control is transferred from United Nations forces to independent East Timor. May 21 Representatives of ASEAN nations, meeting in Kuala Lumpur, agree to form a joint front to fight terrorism in the region. May 27 A group of local oil-producing districts threatens to cut off oil and gas production in their areas unless the central government keeps its promises regarding the division of oil revenues between local governments and Jakarta. Finance minister Boediono invites provincial officials to meet with him to discuss the matter. May 27 United Nations summit meeting on the global environment opens on Bali, with over 6000 delegates. May 29 Vice-President Hamzah Haz pays a visit to Abu Bakar Ba’asyir in Surakarta. Malaysia and Singapore had accused Ba’asyir of being a secret leader of Jemaah Islamiya and of having ties to the international al-Qaeda network. Ja’Far Umar Thalib and Abu Bakar Ba’asyir were among the extremist leaders who were accused of having links with international terrorism in 2002. Thalib was the leader of Laskar Jihad, a group which was known to have advocated violence against non-Muslims in Maluku and other areas. Ba’asyir operated a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Surakarta, but was accused of being the secret leader of Jemaah Islamiya, which had been involved in planning unsuccessful terrorist attacks in Singapore. Both were accused of having contact with the infamous al-Qaeda terrorist network. While the views of such men were not widely respected in Indonesia, their contacts with foreign terrorists and willingness to resort to violence caused concern. June 2002June 3 National Development Planning Minister Kwik Kian Gie says that Indonesia should stop accepting IMF loans if the conditions for their acceptance are too harsh.June 5 Omar al-Faruq, a Kuwaiti citizen and high-ranking member of the al-Qaeda terrorist group, is arrested by Indonesian authorities. He is later transferred to U.S. custody and sent to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan for questioning. Bomb blast on a bus near Poso, Sulawesi Tengah kills four.June 7 Army Gen. Sutarto is installed as armed forces chief.June 8 Indonesia hosts the first Southwest Pacific forum, attended by senior officials from Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.June 10 IBRA cancels a planned sale of its 51 percent share of Bank Niaga due to low bids.June 11 Vice-President Hamzah Haz visits Ambon, warning that the government will crack down on any groups that promote unrest there. He donates Rp 100 million to a church in Soya village that was destroyed in April. However, he also visits a school and clinic run by Laskar Jihad supporters.June 12 Indonesia agrees to economic reforms in exchange for a resumption of IMF loans.June 13 Bankruptcy court declares Manulife Indonesia, a local affiliate of a Canadian insurance corporation, to be bankrupt even though it posted a profit for the previous year.June 25 Justice Minister Mahendra says that an investigation will be conducted into allegations of bribery and corruption around the Manulife Indonesia case. Info from al-Faruq would later prove vital in arresting and charging suspects in the Bali bombings of October 2002. July 2002July 2 East Timor President Gusmao visits Jakarta. Indonesia and East Timor establish full diplomatic ties.July 10 Security Minister Yudhoyono visits Aceh; seven are killed during clashes in eastern Aceh.July 26 Tommy Suharto is sentenced to 15 years in jail for murder. August 2002August 1 New Malaysian immigration law goes into effect, with punishments for illegal migrant workers including caning and prison. Tens of thousands of Indonesian migrant workers leave Malaysia for border camps in Indonesia.August 2 U.S. Sec. of State Colin Powell, in Jakarta, announces that the U.S. will give US$50 million to Indonesia for anti-terrorism efforts.August 3 5,000 demostrate outside the Assembly building in Jakarta, demanding that shariah law be recognized in the constitution. Among the demonstrators are Jafar Umar Thalib and Abu Bakar Baasyir.August 10 The Assembly (MPR) passes changes to Indonesia’s constitution allowing for direct election of the President and Vice-President, and ending the allocation of Assembly seats for the armed forces.August 13 Muslim “laskar” burn Christian homes around Poso, Sulawesi Tengah; five are killed.August 14 Former Gov. Soares of the Indonesian province of East Timor is convicted of crimes against humanity, but only sentenced to three years in jail.August 15 Six military officers are acquitted of war crimes in a government human rights tribunal in Jakarta.August 17 Grenade attack on an Independence Day crowd in Banda Aceh injures 13.August 19 Security Minister Yudhoyono says that GAM rebels have until the end of Ramadan (December 7, 2002) to accept a peace agreement.August 19 Alex Manuputty, a Christian militia leader from Maluku, goes on trial in Jakarta on charges of separatism.August 20 Amien Rais calls new Malaysian immigration laws “inhumane and insulting.”August 25 Indonesian forces kill at least 11 GAM rebels in clashes in Aceh.August 31 Truck convoy is attacked near the Freeport McMoran Grasberg mine at Tembagapura, Papua; three are killed. September 2002September 4 Akbar Tanjung is found guilty of corruption and sentenced to three years in jail.September 11 Large demonstrations against Jakarta Gov. Sutiyoso are dispersed with violence. About 30 demonstrators are hospitalized after receiving food during the demonstration that contained cyanide. Gov. Sutiyoso is re-elected to his post by the city council for another five-year term despite charges of vote manipulation.September 18 Government audit agency reports to the Assembly that over US$700 million was improperly spent by government offices in the first six months of 2002.September 23 Unsuccessful grenade attack on a U.S. Embassy warehouse kills one of the attackers.September 26 Pertamina signs a 25-year US$8.5 billion deal to supply liquefied natural gas from Papua to China. October 2002October 2 United States and Indonesia agree to reschedule $485.5 million in debt payments.October 3 Media reports in Australia say that the Australian military is investigating allegations of torture, mistreatment and execution of pro-Indonesian prisoners by Australian forces in East Timor in October 1999.October 10 Members of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Malaysian KMM extremist movement, and Syafullah, a Yemeni al-Qaeda operative previously involved in the bombing of U.S. military barracks in Saudi Arabia in 1996, meet in Semarang to make final plans for the bombing of “soft targets” in Bali.October 10 Members of Jemaah Islamiyah hold a press conference in Surakarta, saying that if Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, head of Jemaah Islamiyah, is arrested, they will wage jihad.October 12 Bomb blasts in Denpasar, Bali, kill 202, including 88 Australians.October 13 Laskar Jihad headquarters in Yogya closes suddenly.October 14 Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil tells reporters that the Bali bombings were the work of “al-Qaeda and local terrorists”.October 14 Stock market in Jakarta drops 10% in one day.October 15 700 out of about 3000 Laskar Jihad paramilitaries in the Ambon area leave Maluku by ship.October 18 Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, head of Jemaah Islamiyah, is arrested in connection with the bombings of December 24, 2000, and a plot to assassinate President Megawati.October 19 President Megawati signs two new anti-terrorism decrees, giving police the ability to detain terrorism suspects for six months without trial, and authorizing the death penalty for terrorist acts. Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah express their support for the new anti-terrorism decrees.October 28 President Megawati makes an unannounced visit to Bali on the way back from an APEC conference in Mexico, visiting burn victims in the hospital and the site of the attacks.October 31 Armed forces chief Gen. Sutarto makes a public statement that all “laskar” and related paramilitary groups should disband. During this time, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogya led a public campaign urging extremists to leave the city of Yogyakarta. November 2002November 2 Earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale hits Simeulue island off Aceh, causing injuries and destruction.November 3 Annual ASEAN summit is held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, under tight security. Leaders attending the summit agree to take joint action against regional terror groups.November 5 Police arrest Amrozi, the owner of a van used in the Bali bombings, and charge him with purchasing explosives used in the attack.November 7 Government forces begin a siege of GAM forces at Paya Cot Trieng in northern Aceh.November 21 Imam Samudra, a leading suspect in the Bali bombings thought to be the chief tactical and financial planner of the attacks, is arrested in Merak, Jawa Barat, while boarding a ferry for Sumatra. November 27 Imam Samudra admits to police that he has connections with Hambali, a fugitive leader of Jemaah Islamiyah with al-Qaeda connections.November 27 Eurico Guterres, leader of the pro-Indonesian Aitarak militia in East Timor, is sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Indonesian court for human rights violations and crimes against humanity.November 28 Assembly passes bill restricting and regulating broadcast media, requiring national networks to maintain local broadcasting partners, and creating a government commission with the power to stop operations of any media organization not in compliance with the regulations.November 29 Defense Minister Matori Abdul Jalil says that Abu Bakar Ba’asyir was probably involved in the Bali bombings.November 29 Four military officers are acquitted in an Indonesian court of charges of failing to prevent pro-Indonesian militias from killing 22 in Liquica, East Timor, in April 1999. December 2002December 1 Australian P.M. Howard tells reporters that the U.N. Charter should be changed to allow countries to make pre-emptive strikes against terrorists in other countries. Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines protest.December 3 Ali Ghufron or “Mukhlas”, a suspect in the Bali bombings and a leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, is arrested near Surakarta along with several others.December 3 Several ulama connected with Persatuan Islam, Muhammadiyah, and Partai Keadilan issue a fatwa accusing Ulil Abshar Abdalla of the Jaringan Islam Liberal of blasphemy, for saying that Muhammad was primarily a historical figure and questioning the basis of Islamic law.December 5 Bombings linked with Laskar Jundullah in Makassar kill three.December 9 Indonesian diplomats and Gerakan Aceh Merdeka representatives sign a peace accord in Geneva. Details include a cease-fire to be monitored by foreign observers, and elections for an autonomous legislative body in 2004, and an agreement to allow the province to keep 70% of oil and gas revenues.December 17 The International Court of Justice awards the disputed islands of Sipadan and Ligitan off Kalimantan Timur to Malaysia. Indonesia says it will abide by the decision of the court.December 17 Indonesia hosts a two-day Asia-Pacific conference on Bali to discuss ways to stop money laundering and terrorist financing.December 24 Rahardi Ramelan, former head of Bulog under President Habibie, is found guilty on corruption charges.December 28 Monitoring teams begin work of observing the peace process in Aceh. Teams consist of Indonesian military and GAM representatives alongside military observers from Thailand and the Philippines. January 2003January 1 Government raises fuel prices by 22%, telephone rates by 15% and electric rates by 6% under pressure from the IMF and other finanical aid organizations.January 7 Lawyers for the suspects in the Bali bombings are attacked by Balinese onlookers as they leave court in Denpasar. A request to move the trial is denied.January 14 Police arrest two suspects in Kalimantan Timur in connection with the October Bali bombings. The two were attempting to flee the country.January 15 Government postpones the January 1 raise in telephone rates indefinitely.January 20 Government announces a rollback of some of the January 1 fuel price increases to 8%, after weeks of street protests.January 21 Police forces from ASEAN nations accept an Indonesian plan to arrange special anti-terrorist taskforces across the region.January 21 Police recommend to prosecutors that Abu Bakar Ba’asyir be charged with treason for plotting to overthrow the government and assassinate President Megawati.January 21 Indonesia gets US$2.8 billion in loans from the CGI group of donor nations, after a conference on Bali.January 21 Economics minister Kuntjoro-Jakti says that Indonesia will not rely on International Monetary Fund financial aid after the end of the year, due to the burdensome restrictions required by the IMF loans. February 2003February 2 Indonesian police arrest Mas Selamat Kastari, the head of the Singapore branch of Jemaah Islamiyah, on Bintan.February 3 Bomb explodes at the entrance to Indonesian Police headquarters in Jakarta.February 9 50,000 attend a demonstration organized by Partai Keadilan against possible war in Iraq.February 11 Ali Imron, one of the suspects in the Bali bombings, confesses at a police-organized news conference in Denpasar.February 18 Assembly passes a bill requiring that 30% of all candidates for Assembly seats should be female.February 25 Ret. Gen. Wiranto and six other military leaders are indicted for war crimes by the U.N. regarding the election violence in East Timor in 1999. The Indonesian government says it will ignore the indictments; Amien Rais issues an official protest. March 2003March 4 First shari’ah court for criminal cases opens in Aceh.March 6 Presidential anti-terror decress of the previous October are passed as law by the Assembly.March 9 300,000 take part in an NU-led demonstration in Surabaya against a U.S.-led war in Iraq. Courtesy————————–Islam Muslim Islamic banking finance insurance marriage clothing fashion software qurban Makkah & Madinah.

Reformasi dan Persatuan Nasional: 1998 to 2001May 1998Student protests increase in cities across the country. May 4 Tommy Suharto sells his shares in the Central Village Cooperative back to the organization for US$112 million in cash. The farmers belonging to the cooperative are left with the debts of the organization. May 12 Six students are killed during a demonstration at Trisakti University in Jakarta. Days of serious rioting and looting break out in Jakarta; over 500 are killed in the disorder in Jakarta. Serious rioting also breaks out in Surakarta; at least 28 dead. Suharto leaves summit meeting of G-15 developing countries in Cairo before schedule to return home. Ethnic Chinese begin leaving the country. May 18 Assembly Speaker and Golkar party head Harmoko asks Suharto to step down. Gen. Wiranto says that the statement by Harmoko has no legal foundation; suggests “Reformation Council” to help any possible transition. May 19 Suharto goes on TV, states that he will not step down, but that new elections will be arranged in which he will not run. Several Muslim leaders, including Nurcholish Majid and Abdurrahman Wahid, meet with Suharto. Thousands of demonstrating students occupy the grounds, lobby and roof of the assembly building in Jakarta. Reports circulate of dead and missing students after demonstrations at Airlangga University in Surabaya. May 20 Amien Rais calls off massive demonstration in Jakarta after 80,000 troops occupy Merdeka Square; 500,000 march in Yogya, including Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, large demos in Surakarta, Medan, Bandung. Harmoko says Suharto must resign by Friday May 22, or he will call on the Assembly to choose another President. Eleven cabinet ministers resign, including Ginandjar Kartasasmita, timber millionaire Bob Hasan, and Bank Indonesia governor Syahril Sabirin. May 21 Suharto announces his resignation at 9:00 AM. Vice-President B. J. Habibie is the new President of Indonesia. May 22 Habibie announces new “Reformation Cabinet”. Lt.-Gen. Prabowo is removed from post as head of Kostrad (Army Strategic Command). Violence nearly breaks out between pro-Habibie demonstration and students occupying the Assembly building. Soldiers peacefully escort many demonstrating students from the assembly building and the area. May 23 New “Reformation Cabinet” is installed. Ginandjar Kartasasmita, now economics minister again, says that new elections should occur “as soon as possible”. Attorney General Soedjono Atmonegoro sends letter to Habibie requesting amnesty for non-Communist political prisoners. May 24 Justice Minister Muladi suggests that East Timor should become a special region (Daerah Istimewa). May 25 Sri Bintang Pamungkas and Muchtar Pakpahan, both notable political prisoners, are released. Gen. Wiranto says that 14 army personnel are suspects in the killings of Trisakti University students. May 26 President Habibie announces that restrictions on the press (publishing licenses) will be relaxed. President Habibie tours burned districts of Jakarta. May 28 Habibie meets with Assembly leaders; special session of Assembly to take place in six months, special elections in one year (mid-1999). May 30 Involvement by Suharto’s children in major businesses begins to come under scrutiny: Bambang Trihatmojo resigns as president of Bimantara Citra, tax breaks for Tommy Suharto’s Timor car are revoked, links with companies supplying national oil company Pertamina are examined, many, many others. Bank Central Asia, partly owned by Suharto’s daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (Tutut), suffers from a rush of withdrawals due to lack of confidence in its future. May 31 500,000 Nahdlatul Ulama members march for Reformasi in Surabaya. Retired ABRI Generals call for Habibie to step down. Help the People of Aceh The riots in Jakarta and Surakarta around May 14-15 were the worst violence in Indonesia since 1965. Beyond the immediate danger, the unrest also damaged hopes of economic recovery, in the long term. June 1998June 1 Justice Minister Muladi says he is ready to impose a travel ban on former President Suharto and his family. June 5 Arraignments begin of officers charged in the shootings of Trisakti University students on May 12. June 7 Group of ulama within Nahdlatul Ulama announce that they will be forming a new political party. June 16 Attorney General Soedjono Atmonegoro presents a report to President Habibie on widespread corruption in the “Yayasan” or “Foundations” organized by President Suharto and his family. He is fired by President Habibie five hours later. June 24 Massive labor union (SBSI) protest, led by recently-released political prisoner Muchtar Pakpahan, is called off after troops assemble in Jakarta. June 26 Partai Ummat Islam is formed. Gen. Wiranto replaces heads of Navy, Air Force, Police. July 1998Habibie supporters gain strength in Golkar party leadership. Suharto is removed from party offices. PDI continues as two political parties; a remnant of the government-sponsored PDI, and the PDI Perjuangan (”fighting PDI”) led by Megawati Sukarnoputri. Thousands of PDI supporters rally at Sukarno’s original home and burial place in Blitar. Pro-independence Timorese threaten violence in East Timor; thousands flee. Trucks carrying basic commodities are stopped and looted on Java; coffee plantations in East Java are raided by looters. July 3 Protesting students in Jayapura, Irian Jaya, are shot by police. July 4 Assembly speaker Harmoko announces that a special Assembly session will be held beginning November 10th. July 7 Hundreds of thousands of Nahdlatul Ulama members meet in Jakarta for outdoor prayer. Protesters in Biak, Irian Jaya, are dispersed by police, many arrested. July 26 Partai Bulan Bintang announced as new moderate Islamic political party. July 28 400 ABRI troops leave East Timor. B. J. HabibieThe third president of the Republic of Indonesia, B. J. Habibie. He faced many difficult problems after the sudden resignation of his long-time patron, Suharto. Many people were surprised at his support for several of the reforms that were being demanded by demonstrators, at his actions for more openness and less corruption (including the resignation of his sons from lucrative business posts), and by his readyness to step down if necessary after a special session of the Assembly and special elections. However, others still did not trust him after his many years as one of Suharto’s closest associates, and insisted that he step down as soon as possible himself. By the end of his presidency, the Bank Bali scandal and other affairs had confirmed the fears of his critics and weakened public support for him, even within the Golkar party. Habibie became the first President of Indonesia who was not a native of Java (he was originally from Pare Pare, on Sulawesi). In July 1998, US$9 billion was transferred from a Swiss bank account controlled by Suharto to an account in Austria, in an attempt to move the funds to a more secure location before they could be identified by investigators. The transfer was hidden from the public until it was reported by U.S.-based Time magazine in May 1999. August 1998August 1 Investigation of top Kopassus officers’ involvement in May riots and previous abductions and disappearances proceeds. Prabowo is stripped of all ABRI commands. August 5 Government makes offer of “large-scale autonomy” to East Timor. August 9 Two Police officers convicted for taking part in May 12 Trisakti shootings. August 9 Partai Keadilan formed as new conservative Islamic party. August 15 President Habibie apologizes on behalf of the government for human rights abuses. August 20 ABRI begins pulling all combat troops out of Aceh. August 22 Investigation in Aceh finds pits near Lhokseumawe with as many as 150 bodies, presumed to be atrocity victims. August 23 Amien Rais announces the new Partai Amanat Nasional. August 24 Finance Ministry freezes, merges or nationalizes 11 major banks. August 25 Remnants of PDI party under Suryadi meet in Palu, Sulawesi; thousands of Megawati supporters demonstrate. August 31 Departing ABRI troops are pelted with debris by crowds in Aceh. Rioting breaks out in Cilacap, West Java, and on Lombok. September 1998September 7 Thousands of students demonstrate at the Assembly building demanding Habibie’s resignation. September 8 Students are evicted from the Assembly building by ABRI troops. Student protests against Habibie continue in Surabaya. September 9 Thousands of students protest as Habibie visits Surabaya for National Sports Day. September 15 Rioting and unrest in Riau, Jambi, South Sulawesi provinces. September 16 Attorney General Ghalib is named to head an investigation into the wealth of former President Suharto and his family. September 29 Three are killed in firefight between rival groups of soldiers and police in Pontianak. October 1998October 3 Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogya is appointed governor of the DI Yogyakarta (Special Region). October 10 Megawati Sukarnoputri is elected head of PDI Perjuangan at large, successful convention on Bali. Government announces a plan to merge Bank Bumi Daya and three other state-owned banks with US$11 billion in bad loans into one bank. The government reports that the Suharto family was responsible for $800 million of the bad loans. During October 1998, over a hundred people were killed in separate incidents in Central and East Java. First, night raids by so-called “ninjas” occurred which were said to be against “dukuns” or sorcerers. Then, many of the victims turned out to be respectable Islamic teachers, many of them members of Nahdlatul Ulama. The general public was outraged, which led to acts of reprisal against suspected “ninjas”. Many people were disturbed that the events might lead to more general political violence. November 1998November 9 Thousands of students and demonstrators gather outside the Assembly building in Jakarta, as the Assembly (MPR) met in special session. Students demanded that former President Suharto be put on trial, and that ABRI end the “dwifungsi” doctrine and withdraw from politics and the civil service. November 10 The four most notable reformist critics of the government, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), Amien Rais, Megawati Sukarnoputri, and Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogya, meet at a student-organized conference at Gus Dur’s residence at Ciganjur, near Bandung. A declaration and agreement is signed by all four, calling for reform in government and an end to dwifungsi. Assembly annuls the 1978 “P4″ regulations regarding Pancasila as the guiding doctrine of the government. November 12 Continuing demonstrations in Jakarta turn violent, over 60 are injured. November 13 Nine demonstrators are killed during actions near Atma Jaya University in Jakarta. Looting and general disorder break out. Amien Rais calls for Gen. Wiranto to resign. Demonstrating students take over the airport in Ujung Pandang, but are driven out by security. Assembly (MPR) passes reform measures, but falls short of meeting the demands of student demonstrators. ABRI retains hold of 75 appointed seats in the assembly. President and Vice-President are now limited to two five-year terms. General elections are set for June 1999, and an independent election commission (Komisi Pemilihan Umum) is established. Students hold protests in Bandung, Surabaya, Yogya, Semarang, Padang and Bali. Students demonstrators are driven back from the former Presidential summer palace in Bogor by security. Students in Medan take over the airport and demand to be taken to Jakarta. Demonstrations spread to Balikpapan, Samarinda and Ambon. November 14 Habibie orders the military to take strong measures against demonstrators. November 19 Demonstrations break out again in Ambon. November 21-22 Disputes between Ambonese Christians and local Muslims in Jakarta break out into violence, then more rioting and looting in which six are killed. Looters block toll roads in Jakarta to rob drivers. November 24 Students take over the office of Attorney General Ghalib. November 25 Riots break out in Pinrang, on Sulawesi, over local government corruption. November 26 Students in Yogya appoint four orangutans at the zoo as government ministers in a mock ceremony. Demonstrations in Jakarta continue outside former President Suharto’s house. Demonstrations break out in Semarang, Tasikmalaya, Jambi. November 29 Tens of thousands rally for PPP party congress in Jakarta. Severe earthquake hits island of Mangole in Maluku. November 30 Christians riot in Kupang, Timor. By November, many people were tired of waiting for reform, and worried by the poor economy. Some people did not trust Habibie, who had been very close to Suharto, nor the Assembly, which consisted of members appointed by Suharto, military men, and members of the long-ruling Golkar party. The four signers of the Ciganjur declaration represented the leaders of Reformasi at the end of 1998. All four were notable persons in positions of leadership who were not connected with the business of government during Suharto’s time as President. The four were (from left to right): Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogyakarta was the latest representative of that famous ruling house to devote themselves to public service, just as his father, Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, had. Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, head of the Nahdlatul Ulama. A figure who preached compromise and reconciliation, Gus Dur was hospitalized with a stroke early in 1998, which sadly limited his participation in politics for much of the year. Later in 1998, Gus Dur would call for talks between ex-President Suharto, Golkar and ABRI officials on one side, and government critics, student activists and supporters of reform on the other. Megawati Sukarnoputri was the daughter of Sukarno. She had risen to the leadership of the PDI party, only to have the party split into fractions by government intervention while Suharto was President. Her followers resisted government pressure and organized the PDI Perjuangan party, with her at the head. Amien Rais, leader of the Muhammadiyah. Young, vibrant and intellectual, Amien Rais had been a rival of Habibie for the leadership of Muslim intellectuals during the 1990s. December 1998December 3 General elections are announced for June 7, 1999. Student protests continue: students break through outer security cordons to approach President Habibie’s residence. December 9 Suharto goes to Attorney General’s office to face questions about corruption during his presidency. Students demonstrate nearby. December 11 Fighting between supporters of PDI Perjuangan and local officials leaves two dead in Buleleng, Bali. Tommy Suharto is officially declared a suspect in a corruption case involving Bulog land deals. Bombing in Jakarta at Atrium Senen shopping plaza. December 13 General Wiranto announces plan to train civilians to act as auxiliaries to ABRI in order to combat domestic unrest. December 16-18 Student demonstrations in Jakarta continue; several are injured. December 19 Amien Rais officially begins campaigning for President, representing the PAN party. Local residents on Bintan, Riau (near Singapore) stop foreign tourists at barricades to demand money to compensate for unpaid land deals. December 20 UN envoy Jamsheed Marker tells reporters that an agreement on autonomy for East Timor is “very close”. December 28 Anti-Christian Rioting in Palu and Poso in Central Sulawesi. December 30 Mob in Aceh pulls ABRI members off a bus bound for Medan. Seven are killed. Riots in Lampung. During December, truck drivers reported numerous robberies along the main east-west highways in West and central Java. January 1999January 1 Rioting and unrest in Bandung and other Jawa Barat cities during New Year’s celebrations. January 3 Police station in Bayu, Aceh, is burned down by a mob. Five are killed during the unrest, over 100 arrested afterwards. January 9 Rioting in Karawang, Jawa Barat. January 11 Megawati Sukarnoputri starts officially campaigning for President, representing PDI Perjuangan. January 14 Dobo in the Aru Islands is rocked by 4 days of rioting. January 17 Trial begins in Banda Aceh of four Army privates accused of 4 deaths and the torture of 20 citizens. January 19 Serious rioting breaks out in Ambon during Ramadan observances, lasts for four days. As many as 20,000 citizens take refuge in military installations. Some foreigners are evacuated by air to Darwin, Australia. January 22 Gen. Wiranto arrives in Ambon to meet with local leaders and assess the situation. January 24 Casualties from the Ambon riots are reported to include 54 dead. Gen. Wiranto meets with several opposition leaders, including Gus Dur, Amien Rais, Megawati, Nurcholish Madjid, and the Sultan of Yogya. January 27 Agreement is reached that will allow ABRI to retain 38 seats in the Assembly. Starting in January, violence between factions in East Timor heightened. Pro-Indonesia and pro-independence groups fought to strengthen their positions as rumors spread that East Timor would be granted autonomy or independence. Over 100 were killed in the first half of the year. February 1999February 1 Habibie signs bills into law regarding the upcoming June 7 elections, the makeup of the Assembly, and political parties. February 4 Violence resulting in deaths breaks out in Aceh, on Seram, and at a bus terminal in Jakarta on the same day. February 5 Governor of Aceh calls for Indonesia to change to a “federated state”. February 6 Gen. Wiranto gives a blanket “shoot on sight” order to troops combating looting and rioting throughout Indonesia. February 11 Habibie says that Timor Timur could become independent by January 1, 2000. February 14 Unrest flares up again on Seram and nearby islands in Maluku; 15 are reported killed. Assembly backs Wiranto’s “shoot on sight” orders against rioters. Giant rally for Megawati Sukarnoputri and the PDI Perjuangan party is held at Senayan Stadium, Jakarta. February 22 Unrest breaks out in Singkawang, Kalimantan Barat. The unrest spreads through the area over the next month; at least 60 are killed, 15000 settlers–mostly Muslims from Madura–leave the area. February 24 Australia announces the reopening of its consulate in East Timor. Government announces that Xanana Gusmao will be released from house arrest to participate in meetings regarding the future of East Timor. February 25 Fifteen are killed in violence in Ambon. February 26 Habibie meets with representatives from Irian Jaya to discuss possible independence or autonomy. March 1999March 1 Nine more are killed in continuing violence in Ambon. March 4 48 political parties are certified to stand in the June elections. March 5 Several thousand students demonstrate in Jakarta demanding that Habibie step down. March 11 Amien Rais visits Washington DC. UN announces plan for holding referendum on autonomy in East Timor. March 13 Government announces closure of 38 banks. March 15 Violence breaks out in Sambas region of West Kalimantan, continues for several days. Nearly 200 are reported dead. March 26 Habibie visits Aceh, apologizes for past excesses committed by ABRI forces in Aceh. March 30 Student demonstrators in Padang protest the appointment of a new governor for West Sumatra, enter the governor’s office and take the governor’s chair. March 31 Student demonstrations in Jakarta. April 1999April 1 Two-year process begins to separate police forces from ABRI command. April 1 Col. Latief and several other persons jailed since 1965 in connection with the G30S events are freed by President Habibie. Thirty jailed members of Gerakan Aceh Merdeka and a person involved in the bombing at Borobudur in 1985 are also given clemency. April 3 Over 30 are reported dead in violence in Kai Islands. April 6 Pro- and anti-Indonesia forces clash in Liquiça, East Timor. April 12 Trial of Tommy Suharto on corruption charges begins. April 17 Pro-Indonesia rioters attack persons and buildings in Dili, East Timor, including the home of Gov. Carrascalao. 14 are killed. April 19 Bomb explodes in Masjid Istiqlal, Jakarta. April 21 Peace agreement is signed between pro-independence and pro-Indonesia representatives in East Timor. Agreement is witnessed by Gen. Wiranto and Bishop Belo. Clashes between ABRI troops and civilians in Lhokseumawe, Aceh. April 22 Nearly half of the Social Safety Net funds from the World Bank, 8 trillion rupiah, are reported missing. The funds had been authorized in 1998 to fight the economic crisis. Bank Bali signs a recapitalization agreement with the government, agreeing to assemble 20% of deposits as capital within the next three months. April 23 Habibie chairs a conference to suggest that Maluku be divided into two provinces and Irian Jaya into three provinces before elections in June. Home affairs minister Syarwan Hamid is not present. The concept is criticized by Assembly members as being too rushed. April 27-30 Clashes between PKB and PPP supporters are reported around Pekalongan, Semarang and Demak. During April, unrest continued in Singkawang, East Timor and Maluku. Several corruption trials and investigations continued, including cases against Japanese companies, officers of Bulog, and former president Suharto. May 1999May 3 ABRI clashes with civilian crowds and independence supporters near Lhokseumawe, Aceh. 19 are killed. May 5 Indonesian and Portuguese representatives sign an agreement in New York that East Timor will be allowed to vote for either autonomy within Indonesia or independence. May 9 Gus Dur asks for calm at a rally of PKB members in Jepara. UN police officials arrive in East Timor. May 10 Pro-Indonesia and independence supporters clash in Dili, East Timor. May 11 Grenades are fired at an air defense base during unrest in Aceh. May 14 Golkar announces that Habibie is their official candidate for president. May 17 Time, a U.S.-based magazine, publishes an article accusing former President Suharto and his family of widespread corruption. Megawati, Amien Rais, and Gus Dur (as heads of the PDI-Perjuangan, PAN and PKB parties) sign agreement to cooperate against the “status quo” in government. May 19 Campaigning officially begins for the June 7 elections. Golkar party vehicles are damaged. Gus Dur campaigns for PKB in Aceh, is met by student protests. May 20 Golkar holds rally in Jambi. PPP campaigners are attacked in Aceh. Successful PPP rallies are held in Jakarta and Bogor. May 21 PKB (Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa) holds rallies in Jakarta. May 23 PDI-Perjuangan holds large rallies in Bandung and Bogor. May 24 Golkar holds rallies in Jakarta and Bekasi. Chairman Akbar Tanjung’s motorcade is attacked by a mob. Habibie asks Attorney General Ghalib to investigate claims of corruption by Suharto in the Time magazine article of May 17. May 25 PPP party holds large rally in Jakarta. PDI-Perjuangan holds rally of 100,000 people in Jambi. Four killed in clashes in Aceh. May 27 Clashes between PDI-Perjuangan and Golkar supporters near Serang and Banten in West Java. Rallies for PAN, Partai Keadilan, and Partai Bulan Bintang in Jakarta. May 28 Eight Islamic parties sign an agreement to pool votes after the June 7 election. PDI-Perjuangan holds a large rally in Jakarta. Megawati campaigns in Lampung. May 29 Golkar rally in Aceh is attacked by a local mob. Golkar chair Akbar Tanjung campaigns in Lampung under tight security. May 31 PPP supporters hold large rally in Jakarta. Amien Rais campaigns in Balikpapan. Megawati campaigns in Padang. June 1999June 1 Megawati campaigns in East Timor. PDI-Perjuangan supporters clash with rivals in Ujung Pandang. June 2 Large rally for Partai Amanat Nasional, led by Amien Rais, in Jakarta. Other rallies are held by Partai Keadilan and Partai Bulan Bintang. Former President Suharto files legal charges against Time Magazine, for publishing an article accusing him and his children of corruption. MUI asks Muslims to vote for Islamic parties; Amien Rais criticizes the statement as divisive. Golkar’s election committee receives a Rp 15 billion loan from Bank Bali. This transaction would later be revealed as the center of the Bank Bali scandal. June 3 Over one million PDI-Perjuangan supporters, led by Megawati Sukarnoputri, rally in Jakarta. Golkar supporters clash with rivals in Ujung Pandang. June 5 Shots are fired at a truck carrying ballot boxes in Aceh. Four are injured during a PPP rally on Lombok. June 7 Voting is held for 462 of the 500 seats in the Assembly. June 12 25% of the June 7 ballots have been counted. Komisi Pemilihan Umum (Public Elections Commission) is criticized for the slow vote count. PDI-Perjuangan, led by Megawati, maintains a consistent lead in the count of about 35%-40% of the total. Golkar acknowledges that it will not be the top party after the election. June 14 Attorney General Ghalib resigns under pressure from charges of corruption. June 18 Ismudjoko is installed as interim Attorney General to replace Ghalib. Sri Bintang Pamungkas accuses the KPU of mismanaging funds. Rival factions in East Timor agree to surrender weapons in meeting in Jakarta. Gusmao meets with Gen. Wiranto. June 20 UN civilian police begin arriving in Dili, East Timor, to oversee the August 8 referendum. June 21 KPU announces that publication of final vote totals and party quotas will be postponed until July 6-8. June 23 Meeting of KPU is disrupted by arguments over the disposition of parties that receive less than 2% of votes in the general election. June 28 Dare II reconciliation meetings convene in Jakarta between pro-Indonesia and pro-independence groups from East Timor. June 30 Several small parties demand that the KPU publish a final vote count, and that Assembly seats should be allocated to small parties that did not qualify for seats under the election rules. Verifying vote totals in the 1999 elections. July 1999July 1 Government says it will sue carmaker PT Timor Putra Nasional (owned by Tommy Suharto) for blocking tax inspectors from entering company facilities. July 2 PRD members demonstrate outside of KPU headquarters in Jakarta, clash with police. July 4 Pro-Indonesia militiamen attack UN officers at Liquisa, East Timor. July 7 Over 50,000 are reported to have left their homes in the Pidie regency of Aceh. July 12 Six are killed in separate clashes in Aceh. Dr. Anwar Nasution, an academic critic of government economic policy, is chosed to lead Bank Indonesia by the Assembly. July 15 Official election results are finally released. Order of parties in number of seats won: PDI-P (Megawati) Golkar PPP PKB (Gus Dur) PAN (Amien Rais) July 17 Political parties ratify the results of the June 7th elections. July 20 Violence occurs at Beutong Ateuh in Aceh, and continues for several days. The events are reported as a shootout by the local military, but those reports are disputed by locals, who claim that innocent civilians were killed by the military. At least 51 are killed during the next 10 days. Amien Rais declares support for Gus Dur for President, on behalf of Islamic parties; Gus Dur, however, continues to support Megawati. July 23 Fresh violence breaks out in Ambon; 11 are killed over the next five days. Management of Bank Bali is handed over to Standard Chartered Bank. Bank Bali had been unable to put together 20% capitalization as agreed publicly with the government on April 22. July 26 Habibie declares that the results of the June 7 elections are official. 27 small parties refuse to ratify the results. Riots break out on Batam. Local residents of Beutong Ateuh reported that very similar actions had occurred in their area in 1993, involving some of the same soldiers, but were never reported. August 1999August 4-5 Two-day peaceful strike against violence stops business and traffic in Aceh. August 8 Megawati visits East Timor. She repeats her position that East Timor should remain in Indonesia, and called for reconciliation between armed factions in the province. August 14 Campaigning begins for the August 30 referendum on independence in East Timor. August 18 Gen. Wiranto, at a meeting in Aceh, announces that there will be further military withdrawals from Aceh. August 26 Skirmishes occur between pro-Indonesia and pro-independence militias in Dili; four are reported killed. August 30 Polling proceeds in East Timor. Tommy Suharto is sentenced to two years in prison for corrupt land dealings involving Bulog. August 31 “Aitarak” pro-Indonesia militias make shows of force in many parts of East Timor. Scattered violence is reported. Former President Suharto, weak and disoriented, on release from the hospital in August, 1999. The Bank Bali scandal grew in prominence during August 1999. It involved questionable transfers of large sums of money between Bank Bali officials and officials of the Golkar party, including Pres. Habibie. September 1999September 1 Final seat allocations from the June 7 elections are finally announced. The announcement states that of 48 parties, 21 have seats in the new Assembly, and only 6 parties received enough votes to qualify for the 2004 elections: PDI-P, 153 seats (Nationalist–Megawati) Golkar, 120 seats (Incumbent–Habibie) PPP, 58 seats (Islamic) Partai Kebangitan Bangsa, 51 seats (Islamic–Gus Dur) Partai Amanat Nasional, 34 seats (Islamic–Amien Rais) Partai Bulan Bintang, 13 seats (Islamic) The remaining 15 parties, mostly Islamic, received from seven down to one seat each, and did not qualify for the 2004 elections. September 4 UN officials announce that the referendum in East Timor has resulted in a 78% vote for independence, with over a 99% turnout. September 5 Leaders of the pro-Indonesia groups in East Timor reject the results of the referendum, and accuse UN observers of fraud. September 6 Violence breaks out in Dili, led by pro-Indonesia “Aitarak” militiamen. Australian military organizes evacuation of foreign citizens. September 7 Looting, burning and rioting is widespred in Dili and East Timor. UNAMET facilities in Baucau are attacked by pro-Indonesia rioters, and most UN personnel are evacuated. Martial law is declared in a joint communique by Gen. Wiranto, Habibie and several ministers. Several hundred are reported dead from the previous events and over the next few days. 30,000 refugees are reported in the hills; as many as 80,000 pro-Indonesia citizens are estimated to be trying to leave the area. Indonesian government releases Xanana Gusmao from custody. September 8 Habibie meets privately with Gen. Wiranto, several ministers and leading ABRI commanders. Rumors of a coup are denied the next day. September 14 UN Security Council authorizes peacekeeping force for East Timor. September 15 Habibie says that Indonesia does not oppose UN peacekeeping forces in East Timor. Violence lessens in East Timor; militias lessen activities in Dili. September 16 Indonesia cancels existing security agreement with Australia. IMF suspends process of distributing financial aid to Indonesia, primarily due to a perceived lack of cooperation by Habibie’s administration in investigating and explaining the Bank Bali scandal. September 17 ABRI and Australian P.M. Howard issue critical, unflattering public statements about each other. ABRI announces that 2000 troops have already been withdrawn from East Timor to Flores. Dili is reported to be 75% damaged. September 18 Xanana Gusmao leaves Jakarta for Darwin, Australia. September 20 UN peacekeeping force Interfet, with mostly Australian troops, begins landing in East Timor. September 21 President Mahathir of Malaysia calls Australia’s role in Interfet “belligerent”. September 23 Assembly announces a draft of an “Emergency Situations Bill”; violent protests in Jakarta. Habibie lifts military state of emergency in East Timor. September 24 Protests against the proposed new security laws spread to Medan, Ujungpandang, Bandung, and many other cities. Two students are shot and killed in the Jakarta protest. Assembly sets aside the new security laws. September 26 Indonesian military hands over control of East Timor to Interfet. September 28 More violent student protests against the security laws in Medan, Lampung and Semarang. September 29 Several prominent arrests are made in connection with the Bank Bali scandal. While independence for East Timor was widely portrayed as “liberation” in the foreign press, in Indonesia it caused several potential problems, including the possibility of thousands of pro-Indonesia refugees and damage to the formerly excellent relations between Indonesia and Australia. Within a month, the new democratically elected President Abdurrahman Wahid would give a speech against those who did not respect the feelings and integrity of Indonesia as a nation. October 1999October 2 The election of the President by the Assembly (MPR) is scheduled for October 20. October 1 Assembly chooses Amien Rais of PAN to be Speaker. October 5 IMF says that the Indonesian government has not produced satisfactory reports on the Bank Bali scandal. October 6 Akbar Tandjung of Golkar is chosen Chairman of the Assembly (DPR). October 7 PAN and Partai Keadilan throw their support to Gus Dur for President. October 8 Gus Dur and Megawati visit Sukarno’s grave and memorial in Blitar. October 10 Australian troops in Interfet kill an Indonesian policeman during a skirmish on the East Timor frontier. October 11 Acting Attorney General Ismudjoko stops inquiry into the case of corruption in Suharto’s charitable foundations. October 13 Golkar re-confirms Habibie as their candidate for President. Habibie nominates Gen. Wiranto as his running-mate for Vice-President. October 14 Habibie gives a speech to the Assembly (MPR) defending his presidency and accepting accountability for his actions as President. Widespread protests in Jakarta. Courts lift charges against Tommy Suharto regarding corrupt land deals and Bulog. October 18 Gen. Wiranto withdraws as a candidate for Vice-President. October 19 The Assembly (MPR) rejects Habibie’s accountability speech. Large pro-Megawati and anti-Habibie demonstrations are held in Jakarta. October 20 Habibie withdraws from the Presidential contest shortly before the vote in the Assembly (MPR). The Golkar leadership offers Akbar Tandjung as a replacement; he withdraws one hour later. Yusril Mahendra of Partai Bulan Bintang also withdraws from the election just before the balloting. Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) is elected President. Wahid receives 373 votes; Megawati Sukarnoputri receives 313 votes. October 21 Megawati Sukarnoputri is elected Vice-President by the Assembly (MPR). October 22 Xanana Gusmao returns to East Timor on a U.S. helicopter assigned to Interfet. Students in Ujung Pandang call for Habibie to be named “President of East Indonesia” in a federal state. October 25 UN approves 9,000-man UNTAET peacekeeping force for East Timor. October 26 President Wahid announces new cabinet. October 27 New Attorney General Marzuki Darusman announces that corruption investigations into former President Suharto will be reopened. October 28 Megawati visits Lampung. About 1,000 employees of the Information Ministry, soon to be unemployed, demonstrate in Jakarta. October 29 President Wahid and Megawati institute new cabinet, meet with demonstrators in Merdeka Square. October 31 Last Indonesian forces leave East Timor. Abdurrahman Wahid, or “Gus Dur”, the fourth president of the Republic of Indonesia Wahid won the election for President by combining votes from his own PKB party, other Islamic-oriented parties (including PAN, PPP, Partai Bulan Bintang, and Partai Keadilan), and from Golkar members who were left without a candidate when Habibie withdrew from the race. Megawati received all the votes from her PDI-P party, but was unable to gain significant votes from outside her own party. November 1999November 2 Price Waterhouse Coopers report on the Bank Bali scandal is released, revealing the June 2 loan to Golkar’s election campaign and other irregularities. November 3 Three days of rioting break out in Ternate and Tidore, Maluku. November 4 Gen. Wiranto hands his position as Armed Forces commander to Admiral Widodo in a ceremony at Cilacap. Wiranto maintains his cabinet post. November 6 President Wahid visits Singapore; assures Indonesian businessmen who have evacuted capital to Singapore that the business and legal climate in Indonesia will improve under his presidency. November 7 President Wahid makes 6-hour visit to Myanmar. November 8 East Kalimantan assembly passes resolution calling for Indonesia to become a federal state. Aceh assembly and a rally attended by hundreds of thousands in Banda Aceh call for a peaceful referendum to decide the future of Aceh. President Wahid visits Cambodia. November 9 Teungku Abdullah Syafii of GAM (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka/Free Aceh Movement) states that nothing less than full independence is acceptable to his movement. November 12 Amien Rais visits Banda Aceh, speaks for conciliation and against independence for Aceh. November 14 President Wahid visits Salt Lake City, Utah, USA for medical treatment. During the trip he announces that three cabinet ministers will be replaced due to investigations into corrupt practices. IMF announces that it will reopen financial aid discussions with the Indonesian government. November 15 President Wahid visits Tokyo, gets assurances of finanical aid from the Japanese government. World Bank expresses concern over Indonesia’s budget; estimates that Indonesia’s foreign loans will double over the next year. November 16 President Wahid states that a referendum for Aceh is possible. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat says that independence for Aceh is out of the question. November 19 Hundreds of police officers and families are evacuated from South Aceh to Medan. Many more residents of Aceh from other parts of Indonesia leave during November. November 22 President Wahid begins 5-day trip to Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan. November 23 Commission of Nahdlatul Ulama’s 30th Congress calls for Suharto to be put on trial for corruption. November 26 Hamzah Haz of the PPP party resigns from the cabinet. November 28 Texmaco Group reveals that it is nearly 10 trillion rupiah in debt to Bank Negara Indonesia. Later, former President Suharto would be mentioned in connection with the affair. November 30 President Wahid meets Xanana Gusmao in Jakarta. Megawati Sukarnoputri, as Vice-President in the Wahid administration. December 1999December 1 President Wahid begins state visit to China; issues press release stating that restrictions against ethnic Chinese and expressions of Chinese culture in Indonesia will be lifted. Demonstrations in several parts of Irian Jaya demand independence. December 2 Charges against several defendants in the Bank Bali case are dropped. December 3 Explosions in Ambon and clashes on Ceram kill 30-40. Akbar Tanjung says that a referendum for Aceh should not include a choice for independence. December 6 Attorney General Marzuki Darusman reopens corruption case against Suharto that had been closed on October 11. December 8 President Wahid says that he will not tolerate any movement calling for complete independence for Aceh. December 12 President Wahid and Megawati begin two-day trip to Ambon; call for peace between rioting factions. December 16 Skirmishes flare up in several locations in Aceh. Eighteen Army personnel are killed in one skirmish near Lhokseumawe. December 18 Gen. Wiranto tells press that he will cooperate with human rights investigations regarding East Timor. December 20 KPP HAM (Human Rights Investigating Committee) begins hearings in East Timor. December 22 President of PLN, the national electric utility, resigns in a dispute with the government over the handling of private electric power contracts, complaining that to honor the existing contracts would be a concession to foreign pressure and domestic corruption. President Wahid supported maintenance of the existing contracts. Rioting between Christians and Muslims on Buru in Maluku leads to over 100 deaths; many Christians flee to Ambon. December 28 Diplomatic relations with Portugal, broken since 1976, are resumed. Rioting around Tobelo, on Halmahera, kills over 250, mostly Muslims. December 29 At least 70 are reported dead in recent rioting in Ambon. Government reports that over 750 people died in violence in and near Ambon during 1999. Rioting on Ternate and Tidore, Maluku, kills 7. December 30 Kostrad batallions land at Ambon to help stop the continuing violence. December 31 President Wahid visits Jayapura, Irian Jaya, apologizes for excessive military actions in the province, but rules out any move for independence. Irian Jaya province is officially renamed Papua. A destroyed Muslim neighborhood in Ambon, 1999. The continuing violence in Maluku, as well as the events around the independence of East Timor, led to a number of Muslim refugees, possibly more than 100,000, leaving Maluku and Timor for Sulawesi and other parts of Indonesia. This movement of people was not widely reported in the foreign press, but led to continued bad feelings between communities within Indonesia. January 2000January 1 North Maluku province, including Ternate, Tidore and Halmahera, is separated from Maluku, following a law passed during the last days of the Habibie administration. January 2 500 troops land on Morotai, North Maluku, to stop inter-community fighting there. January 4 Audit of Bank Indonesia is released, revealing that over Rp 7 trillion was mismanaged during the early part of the economic crisis in late 1997 and 1998. Reports from North Maluku allege that hundreds have been killed in inter-community violence on Halmahera. January 7 Amien Rais criticizes Komnas HAM (National Human Rights Committee) for disregarding cases from Aceh and Ambon in favor of cases from East Timor. January 11 Indonesian Navy begins a blockade of Ambon harbor in an attempt to stop the illegal flow of weapons. January 13 President Wahid fires ABRI spokesman Maj.-Gen. Sudrajat for suggesting that the civilian branches of government should not intervene in military affairs. Rumors of a coup abound. January 17 20 soldiers are reported killed in a skirmish near Pidie, Aceh. Rioters burn churches in Mataram, Lombok. Disturbances continue for three days. Three days of demonstrations against resort and industrial developers begin on Bintan, Riau, including disruptions to the island’s power supply. January 18 Armed forces chief Adm. Widodo holds an unannounced meeting with President Wahid. January 22 25 are killed on Haruku, near Ambon, as security forces fire on crowds to stop rioting and burning there. January 25 Rioting in Bima, Sumbawa. January 26 President Wahid visits Sabang, Aceh, and calls for reconciliation. January 28 65 are reported dead from rioting on Bacan, North Maluku. Several reports accuse Gen. Wiranto of complicity in the violent events in East Timor in September. January 30 Laskar Jihad is founded in Yogyakarta. January 31 President Wahid announces that he will ask Gen. Wiranto to resign from the cabinet. February 2000February 1 “Riau People’s Congress” makes a non-binding vote for independence. February 2 Wiranto attends a cabinet meeting chaired by Megawati while President Wahid is in London, in spite of calls for Wiranto to step down. February 4 Army chief Gen. Sudarto says that the Army, as an institution, would not lead a coup. February 5 Chinese New Year is celebrated publicly in Jakarta for the first time since the 1960s. February 11 Former President Suharto is named as a suspect in a corruption investigation involving his charitable foundations. February 13-14 President Wahid returns from a two-week foreign tour, announces that Wiranto can remain in the cabinet for the time being, then reverses himself the next day and removes Wiranto from the cabinet. February 15 Wiranto states that he will obey President Wahid’s decision. February 23 Report to Attorney General Marzuki Darusman states that Tommy Suharto and businessman Bob Hasan appropriated US$87 million in reforestation funds. February 25 Armed forces chief Adm. Widodo states that the armed forces is willing to give up all its seats in the Assembly by 2004. February 29 President Wahid visits Dili, East Timor, and apologizes for human rights violations while East Timor was a part of Indonesia. March 2000March 8 Government announces that the Bakorstanas security agency, founded by Suharto, will be disbanded. March 13 Tommy Suharto is called in for questioning about the handling of funds by his former clove monopoly. March 17 Presidential representative meets with the head of Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh Movement) near Pidie. Local security forces disturb the intent of the meeting by conducting a violent search of nearby villages. March 22 Rudini resigns as head of the KPU (General Elections Commission), as investigations continue into the mismanagement of funds there. March 27 President Wahid addresses a PDI-P party congress in Semarang, and recommends that the President and Vice-President should be elected directly by the voters. March 31 President Wahid defends his statement that the 1966 decree banning the teaching of Communism and Marxism should be overturned. March 31 Lawyers for former President Suharto claim he is too ill to respond to a summons from the Attorney General. During March 2000, there was much activity by the Indonesian Banking Restructuring Agency. Investigations into Bank Indonesia turned up irregularities involving several officers in the bank and former President Suharto. Bank Negara Indonesia became the latest bank to be declared unsound by the agency. April 2000April 3 Former President Suharto is questioned at his residence by representatives of the Attorney General’s office, but the questioning is quickly interrupted by Suharto’s doctors. April 5 IMF gives sweeping approval to 42 of the government’s economic restructuring proposals. April 5 Armed clash at Lhokseumawe airport in Aceh leaves three soldiers killed. April 6 Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah group holds a rally at Senayan stadium, Jakarta. A militia group claiming to support Muslims in Maluku, they announce that up to 10,000 militiamen will be sent to defend Muslim communities in Maluku. Six leaders meet with President Wahid for a short meeting; they leave criticizing the President. Government sends forces to close down the Laskar Jihad training camp near Bogor. Attorney General Darusman signs an agreement with UN officials in East Timor regarding the investigation of human rights abuses the previous September and after. April 8 Demonstrators in Jakarta, Medan and Jambi protest the possibility of lifting the ban on Communist teaching. April 12 Former President Suharto is placed under a travel ban. April 17 Four Army officers ignore a summons to appear for questioning regarding the July 27, 1996 events at PDI party headquarters. April 19 Special team organized by Attorney General Darusman begins investigating human rights violations in East Timor. April 19 Trial begins of military officers accused of leading violence against civilians at Beutong Ateuh, Aceh, during the previous July. Student protests disrupt the trial. Members of Laskar Jihad from the closed camp in Bogor arrive in Ambon, Maluku, despite the closure. April 24 President Wahid dismisses two economic ministers from the cabinet. Many Golkar and PDI-P representatives in the Assembly are unhappy. April 25 Attorney General’s office requests a court order to seize assets of former President Suharto’s charitable foundations, in connection with the ongoing corruption investigations. April 27 President Wahid tells a closed-door meeting that the cabinet firings of April 24 were due to possible involvement in corruption by the two cabinet ministers involved. May 2000May 2 Minister for Economy and Industry Kwik Kwan Gie falls ill during a cabinet meeting; President Wahid announces later that he will head the movement for economic reform himself. May 3 Former military leaders Try Sutrisno and Benny Murdani testify before Komnas HAM (National Commission on Human Rights) as part of an investigation into the 1984 incident at Tanjung Priok. May 5 Retired Lt.-Gen. Syarwan Hamid admits that he was involved in arranging the June 1996 convention in Medan of the PDI party, which eventually led to the ouster of Megawati, but refuses to comment on whether he was involved in the violence in July 1996 at Megawati’s PDI headquarters in Jakarta. May 8 PDI-P members in the Assembly publicly accuse Suharto of being behind the anti-Megawati events of June-July 1996, including the PDI congress in Medan, the attack on the Jakarta PDI headquarters, and the July 27th, 1996 riots. May 12 Representatives of the Indonesian government and of Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh Movement) sign a truce document in Geneva, Switzerland. Some members of the Assembly and others complain that the document and the circumstances of its signing might lead to foreign involvement in the Aceh situation in the future. May 16 Wiranto officially resigns from the cabinet (as an inactive member). 24 soldiers are convicted of murder in the massacre of 56 students and their teacher in a village in central Aceh in June 1999. May 17 Indonesian government signs Letter of Intent committing to economic reforms in order to receive IMF funds. May 19 Military issues shoot-on-sight order to stop rioting in Maluku, amid resurgent violence in Ambon and Halmahera. May 22 Corruption case involving the Texmaco company and misuse of Bank Indonesia funds ends in acquittal, despite strong indications of involvement by former President Suharto. May 23 Rioting breaks out in Poso, Central Sulawesi, between Muslims and Christians, and continues into June. Over 100 are killed. The rioting was aggravated by the presence of refugees from the ongoing violence in Maluku. May 24 President Wahid orders police to apprehend several individuals wanted in the disappearance of Rp 35 billion from Bulog accounts. Attorney General Marzuki Darusman installs a new Joint Anti-Corruption Team. May 26 Demonstration in Jakarta demanding that former President Suharto be arrested and brought to trial briefly turns violent. May 28 Church bombing in Medan injures 23. May 29 Former President Suharto is placed under house arrest. June 2000June 1 Defense Minister Sudarsono states his opinion that provocateurs allied with the circle of former president Suharto are behind the violence in Maluku. June 4 “Papua People’s Congress” in Jayapura issues a statement rejecting the unification of Papua (formerly Irian Jaya) with Indonesia in 1962 and 1969. The Indonesian government does not recognize the declaration. Earthquake near Bengkulu kills over 100 people. June 13 “Bulakrantai” document is revealed at a conference of military leaders, describing secret meetings among military officers during the previous April who planned to overthrow President Wahid. Armed Forces chief Admiral Widodo says he will investigate the allegations. June 15 Police investigators in Jakarta propose questioning President Wahid regarding the case of Rp 35 billion missing from Bulog accounts. June 19 Komnas HAM issues a lukewarm report on the 1984 Tanjung Priok incident. Independent observers accuse the Komnas HAM team investigating the 1984 Tanjung Priok incident of bargaining with suspects, and offering to give immunity from prosecution. Other groups complain that the investigation was not done thoroughly since the victims were primarily working-class Muslims. June 20 114 are reported dead in fresh violence on Halmahera, in North Maluku. June 21 Bank Indonesia governor Syahril Sabirin is finally taken into detention in connection with the Bank Bali corruption case, after a long controversy. June 23 Indonesian government orders police and the military to prevent all outsiders from entering Maluku and North Maluku provinces. President Wahid makes a statement at Ciganjur that he believes wealthy persons in Jakarta are supporting the violence in Maluku. June 27 Full State of Emergency is declared for Maluku. Governor Latuconsina issues a curfew order. During June, President Wahid and his administration came under increased criticism for having at least the appearance of possible corruption–even as the World Bank and the IMF increased pressure on the Indonesian government to hold independent audits and form independent agencies for financial oversight. July 2000July 2 Indonesian Navy detains a ship loaded with small arms headed for Halmahera in North Maluku. July 4 Bomb explodes in the building housing the Attorney General’s office in Jakarta. Two more unexploded bombs are found the next day. July 12 Former Minister Ginandjar Kartasasmita appears before the Assembly, and denies charges of corruption. July 16 Twenty are killed in violence in Ambon, despite the state of emergency. Broadcast video shows men in government issue uniforms fighting alongside Muslim sectarian fighters. July 20 President Wahid appears before the Assembly for questioning in regards to his handling of the cabinet firings of April 24 and other matters. He does not answer all questions to the satisfaction of the Assembly members there. July 21 President Wahid offers a written apology to the Assembly for his handling of the April 24 cabinet firings. July 24 Proposals are forwarded by 252 Assembly members that investigations should continue into President Wahid’s cabinet firings, along with the missing Rp 35 billion in Bulog funds and questions surrounding US$2 million in aid money received from the Sultan of Brunei. July 25 Military spokesman say that the Army and Navy will be rounding up 1900 militia members in Maluku who are non-residents and removing them from the area. Unease continued in July, as the value of the rupiah dropped, gasoline and kerosene shortages were reported around Java, and political tension continued between President Wahid and the Assembly. By mid-2000, around 3000 were dead in two years of fighting in Maluku, and more than 100,000 had been left homeless. Some observers, including President Wahid, accused associates of former President Suharto of encouraging the continuing fighting in order to discredit and destabilize the central government. August 2000August 1 President Wahid, Megawati, Amien Rais, and Akbar Tanjung meet at the Kraton Yogyakarta on the invitation of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. After private discussions, they issue a public agreement that conflicts among the leadership were not good for the country as a whole. Bomb explodes at the residence of the Ambassador from the Philippines in Jakarta, killing two, and injuring the Ambassador and 20 others. Muslim extremists from the Philippines (Abu Sayyaf or MILF) are suspected. Justice Sarwata resigns from the Supreme Court. August 3 Former President Suharto is officially charged with corruption. August 7 President Wahid apologizes to the Assembly for the lack of accomplishments during his presidency so far, and offers a cabinet reshuffle. August 9 President Wahid announces that he is turning over the affairs of government to Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri, after continuing criticism from the Assembly and suggestions that he do so. August 11 President Wahid clarifies that he will retain the powers of president, only delegating certain duties to Megawati. August 17 Kartasasmita is restricted from leaving the Jakarta area while under investigation. August 19 Assembly allows the military to retain 38 appointed seats until 2009, and passes a ban against retroactive prosecution, just before adjourning. August 21 Bank Indonesia demonetizes three series of banknotes; notably a Rp 50000 note carrying the portrait of former President Suharto. August 22 Two Supreme Court judges are named in connection with a bribery case. August 23 President Wahid announces the new cabinet. Megawati is not present. August 24 The IPTN aircraft manufacturing concern is officially rechristened PT Dirgantara Indonesia. August 29 Joko Tjandra is released by the court in connection with the Bank Bali case. August 31 Trial of Suharto begins. Suharto does not appear; his doctors state that he is too ill to testify. Justice Sarwata would not be replaced on the Supreme Court until May 2001, after months of dispute between the President and the Assembly. September 2000September 1 Former Governor Abilio Soares and several others are named as suspects in the investigation into violence and civil disorder in East Timor in late 1999. September 6 Three UN officials and two local citizens are killed in an attack on a UN refugee office in Atambua, West Timor (Nusa Tenggara Timur). Retired Gen. Nasution passes away. September 13 An explosion in a parking ramp at the Jakarta Stock Exchange kills 10. Tommy Suharto is detained in connection with the incident. September 14 IMF releases US$399 million loan to Indonesia. September 17 President Wahid orders that Suharto’s private guards be disarmed. September 18 U.S. Defense Secretary Cohen visits Jakarta; states that U.S. military aid to Indonesia will be endangered unless the situation in West Timor is brought under control. September 22 A disarmament of militias in the West Timor border region begins; some militiamen are reported collecting their weapons again just after turning them in publicly, others refuse to cooperate. Iha, a predominantly Muslim village on Saparua, Maluku, is destroyed by Christian militiamen. September 23 Police arrest 25 suspects in the Stock Exchange bombing, including one who was allegedly preparing a grenade attack on the U.S. Embassy. September 26 Police chief Rusdiharjo is replaced. President Wahid states that the reasons include failure to prevent the Stock Exchange bombing, and for disobeying an order to arrest Tommy Suharto. Two military officers are revealed to be suspects in the Stock Exchange bombing case. September 27 Bomb attack at a Jakarta human rights office results in no injuries. September 28 Judge rules that Suharto is medically unfit for trial and dismisses the case against him. The bombing at the Stock Exchange was originally tied to Tommy Suharto and his followers, but later was thought to be connected to Islamic extremists working in a network with groups in the Philippines and Malaysia. October 2000October 3 Three militia leaders and a military commander are named as suspects in the April 17, 1999 violence in East Timor. Tommy Suharto is sentenced to 18 months in prison for making illegal land swaps with Bulog. October 4 East Timor militia leader Eurico Guterres is arrested in Jakarta. October 5 Prosecutors appeal to have the charges against Suharto reinstated. October 6 Banten province is created from the four westernmost kabupaten of Jawa Barat province, with capital at Serang. October 9 Army and Navy Chiefs of Staff are replaced on orders of President Wahid. October 12 Use of the “Kejora” or “Morning Star” flag without permission is banned in Papua. October 17 Special committee of the Assembly begins calling witnesses to investigate a questionable transfer of Rp 35 billion in Bulog funds with the possible involvement of President Wahid. October 19 Legal charges are temporarily dropped against the heads of three prominent corporations, including Texmaco. October 26 Rioting in Pontianak kills 3. Amien Rais tells the press that he does not expect the Wahid presidency to last much longer. October 29 “Laskar Islam Surakarta” group threaten to evict all U.S. citizens from the city of Surakarta within 24 hours if they do not leave voluntarily. November 2000November 4 Tommy Suharto disappears and is declared a fugitive. November 8 Suharto family compound in central Jakarta is searched. November 10 Thousands attend independence rally in Banda Aceh. At least 25 are killed in clashes around Aceh before the rally. November 10 Consultations between President Wahid and top Assembly leaders make no progress in relations. Assembly leaders ask Wahid to step down if he cannot lead the country properly; one asks him to see a psychiatrist. November 12 Government declines to bail out the debt of the PLN state electric utility. November 16 The head of IAIN Ar-Raniri (government religious college) in Banda Aceh is assassinated. November 21 Bangka-Belitung province is created from the island portion of Sumatera Selatan. November 23 Another acquittal is issued in the Bank Bali case. November 24 New Army Chief of Staff Sutarto states that the military will not tolerate any attempts by rebels in any areas to break away from Indonesia. November 28 Former Police Chief Rusdiharjo testifies in connection with the Bulog funds transfer case (possibly involving President Wahid). November 29 Police round up and detain several pro-independence figures in Papua, in advance of a planned rally on December 1. November 30 Fifty are reported dead in Muslim/Christian fighting in the Watubela islands in Maluku. Hutomo Mandala Putra (Tommy Suharto)For many, Tommy Suharto represented the worst of the corruption and arrogance associated with the Suharto family and circle of close associates in the later years of his father’s presidency. While Tommy Suharto and some Suharto friends, such as Bob Hasan, ended up on the wrong side of the law, others continued with “business as usual” in the new era. December 2000December 4 Governor of Aceh announces the imposition of Islamic law. December 5 Gorontalo province is created from the western part of Sulawesi Utara. December 5 Government announces that government-sponsored transmigration between provinces has stopped as of August 2000. 15 are reported dead in fresh clashes in Aceh. Pertamina announces that it will lay off 6000 employees over the next five years. December 6 Syahril Sabirin, a suspect in the Bank Bali case, is released from detention to resume his duties as governor of Bank Indonesia. December 7 Separatist crowd attacks a police station near Jayapura, Papua, killing 3. December 11 UN transition officials for East Timor visit Jakarta for meetings; vehicles are attacked by demonstrators. Attorney General Darusman restates that Indonesian suspects will be tried under Indonesian law, not international law. December 15 Several days of rioting break out in Ampalit, Central Kalimantan. December 17 Two government buildings in Banda Aceh are bombed. December 19 President Wahid visits Aceh. December 24 Series of Christmas Eve church bombings kill at least 16. Targets include Jakarta’s Catholic cathedral. Bombings outside Jakarta occur at Medan, Bandung, Mojokerto and Sukabumi on Java, Batam, and Mataram on Lombok. Four police officers are killed while trying to defuse a bomb at Pekanbaru. January 2001January 5 Government arrests four local managers of Ajinomoto over a dispute regarding the possible presence of pork enzymes in the manufacture of its MSG flavoring. A recall of the product is ordered. January 5 Vice-President Megawati sides with President Wahid in a dispute with the Assembly over two new Supreme Court nominees. January 9 Government representatives and leaders of Gerakan Aceh Merdeka sign an agreement, include a new cease-fire to last through February 15. Both sides agree to pursue non-violent, democratic and constitutional means to achieve their goals. January 12 President Wahid sends an official letter to the Assembly that he will not select a new Supreme Court justice from the list of those nominated by the Assembly. January 16 Police foil a plan to bomb a ceremony installing local officials at Tanjungpinang, Riau. January 16 Former Attorney General Ghalib publishes memoirs, including statements that could be interpreted as implicating former President Habibie and retired General Wiranto in corruption, particularly in interfering in attempts to prosecute former President Suharto. Wiranto denies the charges. January 19 Police foil an attempted bombing at the Taman Mini Indonesia amusement park in Jakarta. January 25 Several hundred refugees from East Timor demonstrate in Kupang, demanding to be compensated for the loss of their property due to the separation of East Timor. The governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur and several provincial officials are held in their offices by demonstrators for eight hours. January 26 Demonstrations against President Wahid break out in Ujung Pandang, Yogyakarta, and around the Assembly building in Jakarta. January 29 Special committee of the Assembly releases its report on cases involving the mishandling of funds froms Bulog and the Sultan of Brunei. The report states that President Wahid was in violation of anti-corruption laws. Partai Kebangitan Bangsa members protest that the committee has not followed Assembly rules. During January, there were debates over the situation for foreign-owned factories in Indonesia, after reports that an increasing number were considering closing and moving to Vietnam or Cambodia. Manufacturers blamed labor organizations for creating an insecure environment, while labor representatives claimed that manufacturers were exaggerating the situation. Vice-President Megawati called on ministers to investigate. February 2001February 1 Assembly votes to accept the special committee report implicating President Wahid; PKB members walk out. February 2 Students in Ujung Pandang demonstrate by collecting official portraits of President Wahid for disposal. February 5 Former President Suharto is released from house arrest. February 5 Demonstrations take place in Semarang, Demak, Surabaya, and many parts of East Java in support of President Wahid. February 7 Demonstration in favor of President Wahid smashes and burns Golkar headquarters in Surabaya; 50,000 take part. Golkar offices in Probolinggo and Pasuruan are also burned. Demonstrations in Jakarta call for the disbandment of the Golkar party. Other demonstrations are held in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Medan, and Manado. February 7 Effort to press impeachment against President Wahid in the assembly is blocked due to opposition from Megawati, Golkar and military members of the Assembly. The effort had been led by Amien Rais and members of other Muslim parties. February 7 Justice Minister Yusril Mahendra (of Partai Bulan Bintang) leaves the cabinet. February 8 Further demonstrations in East Java and Madura. Golkar offices in Lamongan are burned. February 9 President Wahid visits East Java; despite expectations that he would try to calm the violence, he issues statements critical of his opponents. Megawati speaks out against the violent demonstrations in East Java. February 9 Protests calling for President Wahid to resign are held in Jakarta, Semarang and Bengkulu. February 9 Baharuddin Lopa of PPP is appointed Justice Minister. February 13 An attempt to have Wahid, Megawati, Amien Rais, and Akbar Tanjung meet for talks fails when none of them attend. February 16 Police clash with anti-Golkar demonstrations near party offices in Cikini, Jakarta. February 16 President Wahid cancels a visit to Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta to avoid demonstrators. February 16 Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana or “Tutut”, daughter of former President Suharto, is named a suspect in a corruption case involving oil pipelines on Java. February 16 Government restructures its Farm Credit program to avoid a crisis. The program was 72% in arrears. February 18 Riots break out between Dayaks and Madurese settlers in Sampit, Kalimantan Tengah. Several Madurese are killed. February 18 A police station, housing for families of policemen, and several Chinese-owned shops are burned down by rioters in Selatpanjang, Riau. 2000 Chinese leave as refugees for Pekanbaru and other locations. February 20 A caravan of thousands of Madurese refugees leaves Sampit for the provincial capital of Kalimantan Tengah, Palangkaraya. February 21 Rioting between Dayaks and Madurese follows the refugees into Palangkaraya. Rioting and burning continue in Sampit. February 22 President Wahid leaves on a foreign trip, to make diplomatic visits and to perform the hajj. February 23 World Bank threatens to stop loans to Indonesia unless progress is made implementing agreements with the IMF. February 25 President Wahid announces from Cairo that special forces will be sent to stop the violence in Sampit. February 25 Hundreds of homes of Madurese are burned in Palangkaraya. Violence spreads to Kualakuayan, in the north of Kalimantan Tengah. February 27 Tension and shootings surround the docking and boarding of a Pelni ship sent to Sampit to evacuate refugees from the province. March 2001March 1 55 Army generals meet in Jakarta and agree to distance themselves from politics and support the constitution. March 1 Ginanjar Kartasasmita is named in a corruption case involving Pertamina oil drilling contracts. March 1 Megawati visits Sampit to view the destruction there. March 2 Amien Rais leads a meeting in Jakarta of leaders of six parties, including PDI-P, but not including PKB, calling for a constitutional change of leadership. March 6 Violence breaks out again in Palangkaraya. March 7 Second Pelni ship arrives to evacuate Madurese refugees from Sampit. March 8 Former President Suharto’s daughter Tutut and half-brother Probosutejo are questioned by the Attorney General’s office in connection with corruption investigations. March 12 Special session of the Assembly (MPR) is opened by Amien Rais as demonstrators crowd outside. The special session is to consider actions against President Wahid in connection with the Bulog and Brunei corruption cases. March 12 Indonesian government declares the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka to be a separatist movement. March 14 Attorney General’s office initiates an investigation into an alleged fraudulent land deal from 1989 involving Golkar leader Akbar Tanjung. March 14 Suharto associate Bob Hasan is sentenced to six years in prison in connection with a corruption case involving reforestation funds. March 15 PAN party dismisses two members of the party leadership who had been told to resign their posts in President Wahid’s cabinet, but had failed to do so. March 15 Crowds of demonstrators supporting President Wahid move through Jakarta. March 19 Violence against Madurese breaks out at Kualakapuas, Kalimantan Tengah. March 28 Assembly (DPR) declares support in favor of military operations to restore order in Aceh. March 29 Xanana Gusmao resigns as the head of the interim parliament of East Timor, citing bickering and infighting among politicians there. April 2001April 1 Violence in Kalimantan Tengah spreads to Pangkalan Bun. April 3 President Wahid and Vice-President Megawati both reject a suggested power-sharing compromise intended to defuse the leadership crisis. April 6 Ginanjar Kartasasmita is taken into custody by the Attorney General’s office. April 7 Exxon-Mobil natural gas production facility in Aceh is attacked. April 11 IMF review team arrives in Jakarta to discuss the national budget with the government. April 13 President Wahid issues instructions to restore security in Aceh, amid demonstrations, further attacks on natural gas installations in Aceh, and reports of imminent famine in some districts there due to destruction of the transportation infrastructure. April 13 World Bank defers release of a US$300 million loan to Indonesia, stating the government had not yet implemented reforms demanded by the World Bank. April 13 Chairperson of Nahdlatul Ulama denies that a jihad has been proclaimed to support President Wahid. April 14 Security crackdown against GAM supporters in Aceh. April 17 Police order a crackdown against paramilitary squads in East Java that had been organizing to support President Wahid. April 19 President Wahid says in a speech that a nationwide rebellion will break out if he is impeached. April 20 Letter from the “Paris Club” of creditor nations warns that Indonesia will be declared in default on its debts by the end of May if it does not implement the terms of the IMF Letter of Intent of September 2000. April 21 Gerakan Aceh Merdeka representatives announce that they are ready to fight back against any military actions in Aceh. April 22 Indonesian Army sends 1000 special forces troops as reinforcements to Aceh from Bandung. April 24 IMF negotiating team leaves Jakarta without reaching an agreement with the government regarding the handling of the budget deficit. April 26 Government offers to reopen talks with Gerakan Aceh Merdeka in a neutral country. April 29 Nahdlatul Ulama holds mass prayer in Jakarta. April 30 The Assembly (DPR) approves a memorandum stating that President Wahid has one month to improve his performance, or he will face a special session to remove him. By April 2001, it was reported that heavy budget deficits were forcing cutbacks in government spending and services in many departments. The loss of revenue from natural gas facilities in Aceh that had been forced to close complicated matters further. The stock market and the value of the rupiah both continued to fall. May 2001May 2 Judge orders Ginandjar Kartasasmita to be released from custody, saying that only the head of the Armed Forces has the authority to detain him. May 2 Several cabinet ministers advise President Wahid to make political compromises with Megawati and the Assembly, including a cabinet reshuffle. May 4 Ja’far Umar Thalib, a leader of the group Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah, is arrested in Jakarta in connection with inciting violence during the continuing unrest in Ambon. May 5 President Wahid and others are questioned by the Attorney General’s office in connection with the Sultan of Brunei and Bulog corruption cases; the investigation is not immediately announced to the public. May 7 President Wahid announces that Bagir Manan will be Chair of the Supreme Court, after a long dispute with the Assembly. May 8 Megawati, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, and six other ministers meet with President Wahid in search of an end to the political crisis. (The ministers would become known as the “team of seven”.) May 9 President Wahid denies that he is planning to issue a decree to dissolve the Assembly. May 10 Justice Muladi retires from the Supreme Court after being passed over for Chairperson. Both Muladi and Bagir Manan were rejected by the Assembly as candidates. May 10 Bomb explodes at a Jakarta dormitory for students from Aceh, killing 2. May 11 In a speech at Bengkulu, Megawati calls for an end to the continuing conflicts between branches of government. May 18 At his swearing-in, Supreme Court Chair Bagir Manan announces that the court will look into charges that the Golkar party has violated the constitution, which could lead to the dissolution of the Golkar party. May 20 Special cabinet session is held to follow up on the recommendations of the May 8 meetings on the political crisis between the President and the Assembly, which include the possibility of some constitutional duties of the President being delegated to Vice-President Megawati. With rumors spreading that President Wahid might issue a unilateral emergency decree or shuffle the heads of the military, Megawati cancels a trip to Malang and Bali in order to remain in Jakarta. (Neither the decree nor the reshuffle occurs.) May 25 Amien Rais states that any emergency decrees by the President will be countered by emergency sessions of the Assembly. May 28 President Wahid decides to move forward with a decree to dissolve the Assembly. Several ministers, police and military chiefs tell the President that they will not support such a decree. At noon, President Wahid issues a decree giving Security Minister Bambang Yudhoyono special powers in emergency situations. May 29 Demonstration in Pasuruan to support the President and oppose actions of the Assembly turns violent. Peaceful demonstrations are held in Malang and Kediri. May 29 President Wahid replies to the Assembly’s April 30 memorandum in writing, stating that the memorandum “lacked clarity” and that this prevented him from answering the charges fully. May 30 Seven factions of the Assembly start the process of calling a special session for August 1. Supporters of President Wahid demonstrate outside. During May, the delivery of the State Budget from the executive branch to the Assembly was delayed several times due to internal disagreements among members of President Wahid’s cabinet. The continuing delays caused public works projects to be stalled, and added to the general lack of confidence in the administration. June 2001June 1 President Wahid replaces Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and five ministers, including Security Minister Gen. Bambang Yudhoyono. The new Attorney General is Baharuddin Lopa; the new Security Minister is Agum Gumelar. Gen. Yudhoyono had opposed a possible emergency decree by President Wahid. June 3 One hundred high-ranking police officers issue a statement against politicization of the police force, after President Wahid relieves Gen. Bimantoro from active duty as head of Polri, without consulting the Assembly as required by law. June 8 South Korea demands immediate repayment of a US$4 million loan to Indonesia. June 12 President Wahid shuffles his cabinet again, this time rotating his economic ministers. June 13 IMF representative in Jakarta urges the government to finalize the 2001 budget as soon as possible. June 13 Justice Department begins an investigation Akbar Tanjung and other Assembly leaders on unspecified charges. June 13 Several days of demonstrations, some violent, are held in Bandung against recent rulings from the Department of Labor. Other demonstrations are held in Jakarta, Sidoarjo, Batam, and Ujung Pandang. The ruling were on severance pay and other issues. June 18 The government revokes the passport of Prajogo Pangestu, a Suharto associate under investigation for corruption, while he is under medical treatment in Singapore. June 18 Golkar Assembly member Nurdin Halid is cross-examined for nine hours at the Attorney General’s offices. June 19 Students demonstrate against rising oil and kerosine prices in Jakarta. June 20 At a ceremony in Blitar to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Sukarno’s birth, his daughter Rachmawati Sukarnoputri asks in a speech that the Assembly decree from 1967 that removed Sukarno from power be symbolically annulled. President Wahid and Vice-President Megawati attend; Megawati receives great applause from the crowd. June 21 President Wahid replaces his Secretary of the Cabinet. June 22 Two bombs are discovered in provincial offices in Surabaya and disposed of. June 25 President Wahid leaves on a state visit to Australia and New Zealand. June 26 Megawati rejects a political compromise with President Wahid on the issue of the Special Session of the Assembly. June 29 Japan reschedules payment on a significant part of Indonesia’s debt to Japan. June 29 Army reports that 20 rebels were killed in a firefight near Takengon, Aceh. June 30 Representatives of the Indonesian government and Gerakan Aceh Merdeka meet for closed talks in Switzerland. Magazine cover showing a bull-riding Megawati “fighting her way back to the Presidential Palace”. (The bull was the symbol of the PDI-P party.) July 2001July 1 President Wahid makes a sudden appointment of Police Chief Bimantoro to be Ambassador to Malaysia, without approval of the Assembly. Bimantoro declines the appointment, saying that it was never discussed with him before being announced in the media. July 3 Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa passes away in Saudi Arabia. July 3 Bills supporting Megawati to be the new President work their way throught the Assembly; a bill supporting a compromise with President Wahid fails. July 5 IMF team arrives in Jakarta for talks. July 5 President Wahid appoints Marzuki Darusman to be Cabinet Secretary. July 9 Five major parties in the Assembly boycott a meeting called by President Wahid at the Presidential Palace in Bogor. President Wahid makes a statement that if the Assembly does not reach a compromise with him by July 20, he will impose a state of emergency, suspend the Assembly, and call for special elections. July 10 150 police officers in Jakarta gather to air grievances over the replacement of Chief Bimantoro. July 10 A report on the May 12, 1998 Trisakti shootings is accepted by the Assembly. Students outside the Assembly protest the report for being too lenient. July 10 Marsillam Simanjuntak is named as the new Attorney General. July 11 Bomb explodes at a Jakarta toll booth. July 13 Government signs a Letter of Intent with the IMF in order to release the next IMF loan. July 13 Former Police Chief Bimantoro is arrested. President Wahid denies that he issued the arrest order. July 15 Bomb explodes under a freeway bridge in south Jakarta. July 16 Army and Police leadership states that they are ready to protect the Assembly during a special session. July 17 Amien Rais states that if President Wahid issues an emergency decree, the Assembly will hold a special session within hours. July 19 Assembly passes a bill giving greater autonomy to Aceh, including a greater share of oil and gas revenues for the next eight years. July 19 Ministers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei meet to discuss how to deal with the worsening problem of smoke and pollution from forest fires set by farmers and loggers in Sumatra and Kalimantan. July 19 750 armed members of Laskar Jihad arrive at Poso, Sulawesi Tengah. They are greeted by the provincial governor. July 20 Assembly moves up the opening of the Special Session to hear the issues around President Wahid’s performance to the following day, July 21. It had originally been scheduled for August 1. Security and police forces throughout the country go on alert. July 23 Wahid issues an emergency decree from the Presidential Palace, including suspension of the Assembly and all activities of the Golkar party, and calling for general elections within a year. The military and police ignore the decree, and six cabinet ministers, including Agum Gumelar and Marzuki Darusman, resign. July 23 The Assembly votes 591 to 0 to remove Wahid from office. Megawati Sukarnoputri is inaugurated as the fifth President of Indonesia. The current cabinet is immediately dismissed. Courtesy————————–Islam Muslim Islamic banking finance insurance marriage clothing fashion software qurban Makkah & Madinah.

Orde Baru (New Order) –The Suharto Years: 1965 to 19981966 January Roundups continue of PKI supporters, degenerate into random, unplanned violence in many areas. Sukarno holds a meeting of economic advisors in Cipanas to discuss the nationalization of U.S. oil company properties by presidential decree. Suharto arrives by helicopter, walks into the meeting and states that the nationalization will not happen. January 15 Sukarno holds a cabinet meeting in Bogor, and invites members of student organizations to attend. Anti-communist students demonstrate outside. February 13 “Mahmillub” tribunals begin of persons accused of involvment in the September 30th coup. (Almost 900 are tried in these special tribunals through 1978.) February 21 Sukarno names new cabinet, including Omar Dhani and Subandrio, who are wanted for arrest. February 24 Student demonstrations stop traffic in Jakarta. Sukarno uses helicopters to fly his new cabinet to swearing-in ceremonies. Presidential guards fire on students, killing two. February 25 Sukarno and Suharto meet. Student organizations are declared dissolved and demonstrations are banned. February 28 Subandrio declares that “terror will be met with terror”. Students hang Subandrio in effigy. March Major Nurtanio Pringgoadisurjo, a pioneer of Indonesian aviation, is killed in a test flight. March 6 Suharto warns Sukarno of dissatisfaction among the officer corps in ABRI. March 8 Students attack and enter the Foreign Office headquarters in Jakarta, including Subandrio’s offices. They claim to find documents showing a clandestine relationship between Subandrio and officials in Beijing. March 9 Students attack the Chinese embassy in Jakarta. Sukarno issues orders to ABRI reminding them that he is still president. March 11 Sukarno tries to hold cabinet meeting while students demonstrate outside. Suharto does not attend. Troops loyal to Suharto, commanded by Col. Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, surround the building. Sukarno flees to Bogor by helicopter with Subandrio and Chaerul Saleh. Three major generals follow Sukarno to Bogor, and discuss the situation with him for several hours. Sukarno signs a document giving broad powers to Suharto, the “Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret” or “Supersemar” letter. March 12 Suharto, using the new “Supersemar” powers, officially bans the PKI. March 16 Sukarno issues an announcement that he still has full authority as chief executive, to no effect. March 18 Subandrio and most of Sukarno’s cabinet are arrested. March 27 New cabinet is announced which includes Suharto, Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX of Yogya, who helps coordinate economic policy, and Adam Malik as the new foreign minister. April Purge of Sukarno supporters in the PNI, in the Diponegoro Division, and the National Assembly (MPR/DPR). Ali Sadikin becomes governor of Jakarta. SOBSI labor organization is banned. Adam Malik travels to New York, announces that Indonesia will rejoin the United Nations. April 12 Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX of Yogya issues a frank statement on the poor state of the economy. May Adam Malik meets with Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia in Bangkok, and announces that “konfrontasi” with Malaysia has ended. Japanese government gives Indonesia emergency aid. June 21 A smaller Assembly (MPR-S), now purged of PKI members and many other Sukarno supporters, approves the “Supersemar” transfer of powers to Suharto, and the ban on the PKI. Nasution is elected chair. July Indonesia begins rescheduling debt payments. IMF is brought back in. July Members of Nahdlatul Ulama and other parties in the Assembly attempt to have the “Jakarta Charter” of 1945 recognized officially. August 11 Indonesia normalizes relations with Malaysia. September Indonesia rejoins the United Nations. September 19 Conference meets in Tokyo to discuss Indonesia’s foreign debt. Sultan of Yogya represents Indonesia. Western trade powers and the IMF attend; the Soviet Union is not invited. Indonesia gains an 18-month moratorium on debt payments. October Subandrio is given the death sentence, but not executed. October 3 Suharto announces broad, liberal economic reforms. November Plot to take Sukarno and restore him to power fails; Sukarno would not cooperate. Draft of a proposed bill regarding public organizations is leaked; the bill would require all organizations to accept Pancasila as their guiding doctrine. December Omar Dhani is given the death sentence, but not executed. Bulog (Badan Urusan Logistik) is founded to manage rice procurements for the government. Former Republik Maluku Selatan leader Soumokil is executed; Moluccans in the Netherlands burn the Indonesian embassy there. All Chinese-language schools are closed. New Press Law tightens the existing censorship process. Assembly (MPR-S) declares that the preamble to the 1945 constitution, including Pancasila, is inalterable (referring by implication to the “Jakarta charter” language giving a special position for Islam). Help the People of Aceh “Supersemar”: Sukarno and Suharto in 1966. The abbreviation “Supersemar” is also a reference to the character Semar from traditional wayang kulit stories. Officially, Sukarno gave emergency powers to Suharto, which were then approved by the Assembly–but Sukarno was under pressure from military powers and street demonstrations, and by then, the Assembly had been purged of many of Sukarno’s supporters. Under the powers of “Supersemar”, Suharto founded Kopkamtib, a special forces detail originally assigned to tracking down PKI members. It was later used for general political purposes, including for enforcing restrictions on the press. Suharto also expanded the role of the special forces group called “Opsus” using these special powers. Opsus was used for covert operations and was headed by Gen. Ali Murtopo. Subandrio on trial, 1966. Subandrio was given a death sentence, but was never executed. Aside from those who died in the 1965-66 violence following the G30S incident, there were many hundreds of thousands who were arrested. These people were called “Tahanan Politik” for “political resisters”, often shortened to TAPOL. They were classed in three categories. Category A were people considered dangerous PKI leaders or associates who were put on trial. Category B were a larger group of people who were held on suspicion but without trial; many were sent to internal exile on Buru. Category C were people who were only detained briefly, maybe as many as 500,000. No matter what category, all these people were required to have a mark on their personal ID card indicating that they were TAPOL for many years afterward. At the beginning, Suharto shared many policy decisions with Adam Malik as foreign minister and the Sultan of Yogya regarding domestic affairs. During the 1960s, Suharto’s government repaired the economy with the help of foreign-trained “technocrat” economists, many of whom worked in the Bappenas planning group. Suharto and Adam Malik, 1966. Adam Malik was a young student radical during the independence struggle, and was originally a member of the socialist Murba Party. After a brief assignment as ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1963, he became disenchanted with the political left. 1967 January Sukarno says he had no foreknowledge of the coup attempt. Economic reforms are passed, including a government guarantee that no further properties will be nationalized, a three-year tax holiday, and a guarantee that profits earned can be sent overseas. February British and USA properties are returned to owners. February 20 Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia convenes in Jakarta to promote and plan for Islamic evangelism (da’wa), and to counter a perceived growth in “kristenisasi” (Christianization). Former Masyumi leaders, including Natsir and Mohammed Roem, attend. The IGGI (Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia), a consortium of 14 donor countries and 5 international organizations, holds its first meeting. The U.S. and Japan each pledge $65 million in aid. March 12 Assembly (MPR), chaired by Gen. Nasution, receives a committee report on Sukarno’s role in the September 30, 1965 events. The Assembly takes all power away from Sukarno, and names Suharto acting president. April Christian churches are attacked in Aceh. Several days of anti-Chinese demonstrations break out in Jakarta. Indonesia breaks diplomatic relations with China. Most Chinese-language newspapers closed by government. Freeport-McMoran signs first contract with the Indonesian government to mine for copper in Irian Jaya. The company receives a three year tax holiday. July Nahdlatul Ulama holds congress in Bandung. The congress demands quick elections, and an end to the ban on civil servants holding membership in political parties (which prevented civil servants from being members of NU). July 27 Compromise announced in the Assembly after long debate on how parties and constituencies should be represented. Government gets to appoint up to one-third of members. August Suharto places all armed forces under his control. August 8 ASEAN is founded. Original members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand. Bengkulu is made a province. October Anti-Christian riots in Makassar; Suharto speaks out against religious violence. Series of bank failures involving deposits by Bulog raise questions of corruption. SuhartoSuharto was President of Indonesia from 1967 until 1998. Most of his long presidency was marked by economic growth and enforced consensus. The parliamentary compromise of July 1967 began a long period where the legislative branch of government was mostly controlled by Suharto himself. Some ABRI generals, including Nasution and recent Suharto allies Kemal Idris and Gen. Dharsono, commander of the Siliwangi division, were opposed to the plan. Dharsono was soon sent away as ambassador to Thailand to reduce his influence. 1968 Foreign Minister Adam Malik says that Indonesia will make an independent foreign policy, but one friendly with the USA. February 20 Parmusi party founded, including some former Masyumi supporters. March 21 Suharto wins Presidential election in the Assembly (MPR). Muslim members of the Assembly try to bring up the issue of the Jakarta Charter and measures against “religious conversions”, but Armed Forces members of the Assembly cut off debate. April 8 Suharto calls together the leaders of the four Islamic parties, and tells them to come to an agreement on the meaning of the Jakarta Charter. May Delegation led by the Sultan of Yogya visits Irian Jaya to investigate conditions there. August Army-run oil companies, including Permina, are merged into Pertamina, headed by Ibnu Sutowo. Pertamina now has a monopoly on the oil industry in Indonesia, but work is contracted out to foreign firms as well. September First World Bank loans to Indonesia. Monopoly on clove imports is granted to Suharto’s half-brother Probosutejo and Liem Sioe Liong. December Bulog loses significant funds in another bank failure, damaging its ability to buy rice in 1969. In the aftermath of the 1965 events, many people who had not professed a religion before signed up as a member of one of Indonesia’s five recognized religions: Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic, or Kristen (Protestant). A person without a religion was seen as a possible Communist. As a result, the number of Catholics and Christians/Protestants grew rapidly in the late 1960s, although Muslims remained 90% or so of the total population. In the late 1960s, and again in the late 1970s, there were suggestions within the government, possibly from Suharto himself, to have “kebatinan” or “Islam-abangan” added as an official religion that citizens could register under. By “kebatinan” was meant the traditions of Javanese mysticism, much of which had survived for centuries and had little to do with standard Islam. The effect would have been to reduce the number of registered Muslims in the census, and so to reduce the political power of Islamic parties and politicians across the board. The Parmusi party was supposed to be a replacement for the Masyumi party, which had been banned due to the 1958 rebellions. Parmusi was never able to win support of most former Masyumi supporters, though. 50 Rupiah note, 1968, with portrait of Soedirman. 1969 April Repelita I, the first five-year development plan, begins. Its goal is to restore the economy, build infrastructure, and make Indonesia self-sufficient in rice cultivation. Indonesia repudiates earlier citizenship treaties with China. 80,000 ethnic Chinese lose their Indonesian citizenship. July Prison camp is opened on Buru in Maluku for former PKI members. U.S. President Nixon visits Jakarta. July 15-August 2 Village councils in Irian Jaya, under pressure from Opsus special forces in the region, vote in favor of joining Indonesia. The number of votes cast was 1022. September 17 Irian Jaya is formally made a province. Freeport-McMoran builds a 63-mile road from the coast of Irian Jaya to its copper mining area in the interior. November Assembly finally passes bills to approve the July 1967 compromises. A certain proportion of seats will be appointed as representatives of “Functional Groups”: Golkar. November 22 Mochtar Lubis publishes newspaper articles detailing corruption in Pertamina. December 4 Members of “functional groups” on local councils are prohibited from belonging to political parties, with the exception of Golkar. Mrs. Tien Suharto and businessman Liem Sioe Liong found PT Bogasari flour mills. The Bogasari mills are granted a state monopoly on the import, milling and distribution of wheat and flour. Starting in 1969, Suharto’s government decreed a number of restrictions on political activities, parties and organizations. However, the government claimed that Golkar was not actually a political organization, and therefore was not covered by the restrictions. The result was that Golkar was able to be the only political party without restrictions, or more to the point, was able to act as a political party when it was advantageous to act as a party, and was able to claim not to be a political party when it was advantageous not to be a party. Also in 1969, the government under Suharto elevated Sukarno’s 1963 presidential censorship decree to the status of law. Under Repelita I, the first five-year plan of Suharto’s government, 60% of the government’s budget was funded by foreign aid through IGGI, the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia. 1970 Suharto visits Washington. January 22 Student protests are banned after series of demonstrations against corruption. January 31 Suharto appoints a commission to investigate corruption in government. February Government employees are told to be loyal to the government and to support Golkar. Civil servants are told to avoid political activities and organizations. June 21 Sukarno dies at Bogor. July Results of anti-corruption commission’s investigation– that corruption is widespread throughout government–are leaked to the press. August Pro-PKI remnant is purged near Blitar, East Java. August 16 Suharto announces that only two corruption cases will be brought to court. Anti-corruption commission is closed. Liem Sioe Liong and Probosutedjo (Suharto’s brother) gain a monopoly on the import of cloves. Around 1970, the New Order government started heavy promotion of family planning programs. 1971 The government, following Suharto’s lead, refuses to remove the ban on the Masyumi party. July 3 Golkar wins 2/3 of seats in Assembly in elections. PNI and Nahdlatul Ulama trail far behind. Elections are marred by violence between Golkar and NU supporters. New Assembly (DPR) consists of 360 elected members, 75 appointed ABRI officers, and 25 appointed members from other groups. New MPR now has 920 members: the 460 total members of the DPR, 207 members chosen directly by Suharto, 123 chosen by the political parties, and 130 chosen to represent the provinces. Liquefied natural gas exports begin from Aceh and East Kalimantan. Bulog takes over the pricing and distribution of sugar. December KORPRI (Korps Karyawan Pegawai Republik Indonesia) is founded by the government to replace all other organizations of civil servants and government employees. Dharma Wanita is founded for the wives of civil servants. Makassar is officially renamed Ujung Pandang. Candidates for the elections of 1971 were screened by military security; many PNI, NU and Parmusi members were disqualified by the military to stand for election. Political parties–except for Golkar–were restricted from campaigning in rural areas. Golkar enjoyed an advantage from its support from the military, and the compelled support from civil servants and government employees. Golkar also received substantial financial support from various sources. The Opsus special forces group influenced political activity as well. Voting in Irian Jaya, 1971. 1972 March IMF obtains an agreement from the Indonesian government to limit its borrowing, and keep borrowing by Pertamina and other agencies under government control. June Dry weather and government inaction lead to rice shortages on Java. International prices for rice increase as the Indonesian government is forced to start importing. Beginning of “rice crisis”. October Suharto, under IMF pressure, issues decree that all international loans to state enterprises must be approved by Bank Indonesia and the Minister of Finance. 1973 January 5 Smaller political parties are merged into two organizations by the government. Nahdatul Ulama, Parmusi and other Islamic groups are merged into the PPP (Partai Persatuan Pembangunan, or United Development Party). Murba, PNI, and smaller Christian and Catholic parties are merged into the PDI. Many labor unions merged into umbrella organization. March Assembly (MPR) elects Suharto to second term as President. Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX is Vice-President. U.S. and Japan cut back on rice aid to Indonesia. Rice prices remain high. May Suharto promises IMF that future borrowings by Pertamina will be limited to short-term loans. August 5 Dispute over a traffic accident leads to widespread anti-Chinese violence in Bandung. One person is killed, property damage is substantial. September 27 Islamic students demonstrate and take over the Assembly in protest of proposed secular marriage laws. War in the Middle East leads to increase in international oil prices. November Student protests against foreign influences, poor economic conditions, and corruption in government spread. Gen. Sumitro speaks to student groups. November 30 Several prominent persons, including former Vice-President Hatta, sign a statement critical of the power of foreign investments in Indonesia. The “rice crisis” of 1972 and 1973 pushed many Indonesians back into hard economic times, and led to political instability, espressed mostly by student demonstrations. After 1973 until the end of Suharto’s presidency, there were only three political parties in Indonesia: Golkar, which had special status and the backing of the government, the PPP, which was to represent Islamic interests, and the PDI, which combined the remnants of Sukarno’s PNI party and smaller Christian-oriented parties. Only Golkar was allowed to campaign outside the cities, only Golkar was allowed to conduct activities outside of a strictly controlled campaign season, and government employees, including teachers and minor local officials, were compelled to vote for Golkar. The protest by Muslims against the marriage laws not so much because of the laws themselves. Islamic advocates thought that a secular government should not be making decisions on behalf of the Muslim community, even though they agreed with the intention of the laws. In December 1973, Ibnu Sutowo met with B. J. Habibie in Düsseldorf, West Germany to discuss the possibilities of establishing an aircraft manufacturing industry in Indonesia, building on earlier efforts in the 1960s. Habibie had been working for MBB, a German manufacturer, and Sutowo as head of Pertamina was able to bring heavy resources to the idea. Early efforts were done in cooperation with Pertamina; after the fall of Sutowo in 1976, IPTN was established with Habibie as director to lead the efforts. 1974 January 2 Secular marriage laws are enacted, despite Muslim opposition. Repelita II (beginning of second five-year development plan). Its goal is to raise living standards, concentrating especially on food, clothing and housing. January 12 Suharto meets with student protesters. January 14-17 Japanese P.M. Tanaka visits Jakarta. “Malari” riots (”Malari” standing for “January 15th Disaster”) break out during the visit: student demonstrations involving tens of thousands lead to violence, looting and fires. Eleven demonstrators are killed. Gen. Sumitro, as head of Kopkamtib, does not act to stop the protests. Widespread arrests follow the “Malari” riots. Most public meetings are banned, many newspapers and magazines are shut down, including Indonesia Raya, headed by Mochtar Lubis. Gen. Sumitro is demoted. Intelligence agencies are consolidated under the command of Gen. Benny Murdani. Opsus is disbanded. April Coup in Portugal supports decolonization; political parties form in East Timor: UDT (centrist), Fretilin (communist), Apodeti (integrationist) Liem Sioe Liong gives a 14% stake in Bank Central Asia to Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (or “Tutut”), Suharto’s daughter. The government’s response to the “Malari” riots was to increase suppression of free expression and restrictions on foreign investment. Some questioned the military’s handling of the riots, suggesting that individual commanders or factions might have delayed action against either protesters or rioters, possibly due to sympathy with the students, but possibly also to allow violence to break out and so discredit the protesters. After 1974, economic policies were more restrictive and nationalist, a change from the relative liberalism of the early Suharto years. As of 1973, restrictions were already in place regarding the import of fully assembled automobiles, which led to the construction of auto assembly plants in Indonesia. The factories were still owned by Japanese companies, however, and only put together components that had been manufactured elsewhere. The global oil crisis of 1974 led to much higher prices for Indonesian oil, but it also created an economic recession in America and Europe, so sales of the higher-priced oil actually fell. Masjid Istiqlal is one of the largest mosques in the world– another project dreamed of by Sukarno, but finished by Suharto. 1975 Suharto dedicates MONAS, completed now after 14 years. Taman Mini Indonesia opens in Jakarta. February 18 Pertamina, the state oil company, defaults on a $40 million short-term loan from a consortium of U.S. banks. March 10 Pertamina defaults on a $60 million Canadian loan. March 14 Bank Indonesia tells Pertamina’s creditors that it will pay Pertamina’s debts up to $650 million, and that Pertamina would not be borrowing on the international market. April Bank Indonesia stops publishing financial statistics. May 20 Report to the Assembly states that Pertamina’s total debt is more than $10 billion, much of it in enterprises that have nothing to do with oil. Major General Harjono is appointed to oversee Pertamina’s finances. June Commission on Timor meets in Macao. Representatives of Apodeti and UDT attend, Fretilin does not. July 26 Majelis Ulama Indonesia is organized in Jakarta to coordinate the rulings of Islamic religious scholars, including members of Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama. August 26 UDT takes control in Timor by coup; Portuguese simply leave. September Fretilin declares rebellion, drives UDT out of Dili into Indonesian territory, begins killing enemies. September 16 Papua New Guinea gains independence from Australia. October Indonesian commando units start limited operations in East Timor. November Fretilin declares independence, demands withdrawal of Indonesian units. December Indonesia launches a full invasion of East Timor at Dili and Baucau, installs a new government at Dili with UDT and Apodeti members. December 12 United Nations General Assembly calls on Indonesia to withdraw from East Timor. Suharto finally orders reforms in Pertamina’s corporate structure. It was widely known before 1975 that corruption was a problem within Pertamina, but it was only when the company began to default on its debts that the remarkable size of the problem became clear. Pertamina’s total debts may have been as high as $10 billion at their peak. In 1974 Pertamina had a larger fleet than the Indonesian Navy. Fixing the mess left by Ibnu Sutowo and Pertamina was very expensive for the Indonesian government– foreign debt literally doubled due to the affair. Many people died after Indonesian troops entered East Timor, mostly from the side-effects of war: disease and famine due to dislocation. The government of Indonesia has said that 30,000 died, a number which is too low; foreign leftists often say 200,000, a number which is probably too high. The Indonesian military suffered casualties that have never been reported, but may have been over 10,000 killed and wounded. Heavy operations seem to have lasted for three or four years. The architects of the takeover were Ali Murtopo, head of the Opsus covert operations force, and Gen. Benny Murdani, who had gained control of all intelligence agencies. Suharto himself is said to have been uncomfortable with the way events in East Timor finally proceeded. In 1975 and 1977, some refugees from Maluku who had fought against the Republic of Indonesia as “Republik Maluku Selatan” took hostages in terrorist incidents in the Netherlands. In spite of the heavy media coverage of these events, the actions drew little support inside Indonesia, partly because so many RMS supporters had fled to the Netherlands in the early 1950s. 1976 February ASEAN leaders meet on Bali. March 3 Ibnu Sutowo is removed as head of Pertamina. March Indonesia receives over $2 billion in financing and credits from governments in America, Europe and Japan to meet the Pertamina crisis. April 22 United Nations Security Council condemns Indonesia’s presence in East Timor. April 26 Industri Pesawat Terbang Nurtanio (IPTN, in 1985 renamed IPT Nusantara) is founded with the goal of establishing an aircraft manufacturing industry in Indonesia. Dr. B. J. Habibie is President Director. May Government begins to cut back on Pertamina’s non-oil projects, cancelling some, transferring other projects to other state enterprises. Several top officials of Pertamina are fired. May 31 “People’s Assembly” in East Timor declares for integration with Indonesia. July 17 East Timor officially becomes a province. August 17 Palapa A, the first Indonesian communications satellite, is launched. Ibnu Sutowo, an old friend of Suharto, finally fell from power when Suharto hosted a meeting of ASEAN heads of state on Bali. Ibnu Sutowo appeared in a helicopter, and took President Marcos of the Philippines away on a golfing trip, leaving Suharto behind. Suharto never forgave him, and Ibnu Sutowo was out of Pertamina within days. (Note: in a later interview, Ibnu Sutowo said he was fired after refusing to skim US$0.10 per barrel from a new oil shipping company and route the skimmed funds to Suharto.)Palapa A was the first communications satellite for Indonesia, launched in 1976. 1977 Adm. Sudomo announces that a plot against the government by an Islamic group called “Komando Jihad” has been stopped. May Golkar wins 2/3 of vote in elections; PPP party wins majority in Jakarta. PPP alleges fraud in Central Java, East Java and South Sulawesi. Adam Malik becomes Vice-President. Ali Sadikin retires as governor of Jakarta. Indonesia lands paratroopers in Baliem Valley, Irian Jaya, to stop OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdeka) raids. September ABRI begins heavy operations against Fretilin on East Timor–operations continue for 18 months. November 10 Student protests are held around the country on Hari Pahlawan (anniversary of the Battle of Surabaya, 1945). December Release of many remaining prisoners from 1965 events begins. December 12 Nasution speaks against the government at a public rally of Muslims in Jakarta. The leader of the “Komando Jihad” was later shown to have ties with ABRI intelligence. Some said that the whole affair might have been manufactured to discredit the Islamic PPP party before the elections. Rhoma Irama In the late 1970s, two new waves of popular music swept Indonesia. From Bandung, a new and sensual sound called Jaipongan arrived about 1976. Another new development was the explosion of Dangdut, popular music from singers such as Rhoma Irama, that showed both Arabic and rock influences, and expressed the disaffection of Muslim youths. 1978 January 18 Student council at ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology) issues Buku Putih or “White Book”, an extensive paper criticizing the government, and calling for Suharto to be replaced. Dharsono gives speech in Bandung saying that the military should be more responsive to the people’s desires. February Government troops occupy ITB campus. Student leaders are arrested in Bandung, Yogya, Surabaya, Jakarta, and Medan. The “White Book” is banned. Many newspapers are shut down for a week. Sultan of Yogya announces that he will not run for vice-president again. March 22 Suharto elected by Assembly (MPR) to third term. Adam Malik is vice-president. PPP members walk out over the use of the word “beliefs” rather than “religion” (a perceived motion in favor of “kebatinan” and against orthodox Islam). “P4″ courses in Pancasila are introduced into schools, companies, goverment offices. March 28 Group of retired ABRI officers, led by Dharsono, complains to army chief of staff about excessive military presence in Jakarta during the Assembly session. B. J. Habibie becomes Minister for Technology. July Attorney General’s office announces that investigations into the Pertamina affair are over. Ibnu Sutowo is not charged. October 17 Meeting of top ABRI officers publish paper on dwifungsi doctrine, stating that the military should probably reduce its presence in civilian life. Majlis Dakwah Islamiyah is founded as a Muslim organization associated with Golkar. Use of Chinese characters in almost all printed materials is banned, including labels on imported goods. Department of Religion forbids members of the five official religions to seek converts from among the other official religions. See also Notes on Pancasila. 1979 Repelita III calls for shift toward manufacturing in the economy, creating more jobs, and closing the gap in income between rich and poor. May Former Gen. Sumitro publishes article saying that the succession to the presidency should be conducted fairly and openly. June 1 Vice-President Adam Malik gives a speech saying that the government has make mistakes and violated the spirit of the 1945 constitution, but that dissatisfaction should not lead to violence. Government allows some foreign aid workers to enter East Timor. October Legislation is introduced into the Assembly to reform the election laws. Government critics try to increase the number of elected seats in government. Oil prices jump up again following the Iranian revolution. December Government issues a series of weekly magazines for distribution in small villages. Unlike the 1973-1974 oil crisis, the 1979-1980 rise in oil prices led to a huge influx of cash for the Indonesian government. Repelita III had a goal to bridge the income gap between classes in society, but it did not succeed in this. 1980 January Pramoedya Ananta Toer is released from prison, but remains under house arrest. February “ABRI Masuk Desa” program, involving military involvement in local development, begins. February 20 A group of 26 politicians and military figures issues a petition for fair elections. March 27 Suharto tells a meeting of regional ABRI commanders that they should defend their appointed seats in the Assembly, even with force, and that Pancasila should be their most important guiding principles (an idea not well liked by many Muslims). April Suharto publicly denies charges of corruption and immorality. May 13 Petisi Limapuluh/Petition of Fifty criticizes Suharto’s role in government. The many notable signers include Nasution, Prawiranegara, former governor of Jakarta Ali Sadikin and former Prime Ministers Natsir and Harahap. The petition is not reported in the Indonesian media. June 3 Government announces discovery of a plot against the government. No charges are filed, but restrictions are placed on the business activities and foreign travel of “Petition of 50″ signers. Procedures for ethnic Chinese to apply for citizenship are reformed. July Members of PPP and PDI in assembly ask Suharto to respond to the issues in the “Petition of 50″. August Suharto responds to critics in Assembly that existing committees in the Assembly could investigate any issues regarding his speeches or positions. No action is taken. November 19 Three days of anti-Chinese rioting break out in Surakarta. Violence spreads to Semarang, Pekalongan, and Kudus. Military is brought in to restore order. The “Petition of Fifty” urged that Indonesia hold free elections without coercion or special privileges. It criticized Suharto for redefining “Pancasila” to mean “loyalty to the president”. It asked members of ABRI to put their loyalty to the nation above loyalty to any person or faction. In March and April of 1980, Suharto gave speeches stating or implying that he was the “embodiment of Pancasila”. Some saw his statements as irreligious, others as anti-democratic. These speeches were an important factor that brought together many prominent figures to sign the “Petition of 50″. 1981 Nusamba corporation (PT Nusantara Ampera Bhakti) is founded with money from Bob Hasan, Suharto’s son Sigit Harjoyudanto, and money from Suharto family “Yayasan” or foundations. Bimantara Group is founded by Suharto’s son Bambang Trihatmodjo. March 11 Radical Muslims attack a police station at Cicendo, Jawa Barat. March 28 Radical Muslims hijack a Garuda airliner bound from Palembang to Medan. The plane is stormed by Indonesian troops in Bangkok; seven are killed. World Bank report criticizes the spending of oil money on large-scale industrial projects that create few jobs. Xanana Gusmao becomes leader of Fretilin. Even as oil money flowed into Indonesia in the late 1970s and early 1980s (60% of government revenues in 1981 were from oil), foreign investment was falling due to heavy restrictions, and due to the high subsidies for state-owned companies which made private competition difficult. Within a few years, companies under Bob Hasan would control all of Indonesia’s exports of plywood and other forest materials. 1982 Forest fires in East Kalimantan. March 17 New government regulations ban the wearing of jilbab (scarf for Muslim women) in high schools. (Ban is eventually lifted.) April Nearly one million turn out for PPP rally in Jakarta. Competing Golkar rally is attacked by PPP supporters, who are then fired on by security forces. Seven are killed. Tempo Magazine is closed for two months for reporting on the incident. May Dwifungsi doctrine for the armed forces becomes law. May 4 Golkar wins a reported 2/3 of vote in elections. PPP party wins majority of votes in Jakarta. Golkar does not win a majority in Aceh. September Publication Licenses are replaced by a new Surat Ijin Usaha Penerbitan Pers (SIUPP: Permit to Operate a Media Organization). November Import controls are instituted for a wide range of agricultural and industrial goods. Gen. Benny Murdani is appointed head of ABRI. In 1982, the Indonesian government began expanding existing transmigrasi (resettlement) programs of people from Java and other central islands to include settlement targets in Irian Jaya. The SIUPP licensing was more harsh than previous censorship. Before, a newspaper which published an article that the government did not like would be shut down. The SIUPP license covered all publications belonging to a corporation, so if one magazine published an article which was banned, the government could use that to stop publication of every newspaper and magazine belonging to that company. 1983 March 23 Cease-fire agreement signed between Indonesian government and representatives of Fretilin (East Timor guerillas). March Suharto elected by Assembly (MPR) to fourth term as President. Umar Wirahadikusumah is Vice-President. “Petrus” anti-crime initiative begins in large cities. May Government announces that it will scale back plans for heavy industry development. Rupiah devalued due to falling oil prices. August 31 ABRI resumes attacks on Fretilin in East Timor. Gen. Murdani becomes head of ABRI. Sudharmono becomes Golkar chair. October Golkar membership, originally intended for “functional groups”, is opened to the general public. An aggressive membership campaign is started. Abdurrahman Wahid becomes administrative chair of Nahdlatul Ulama. By 1983, the economic boost from high oil prices in 1979-1980 had gone away, as the rest of the world fell into recession. Several thousand people were killed without trial in the “penembakan misterius” or “petrus” events of 1983. Most of those killed were known criminals, taken at night and summarily shot or otherwise disposed of. Often the corpse was left in a public place to serve as an example. While the campaign did lead to a drop in crime rates, some Indonesians were quietly shocked at the brutality and absence of the rule of law in the events–and again in 1989 when Suharto freely stated that it was a “shock therapy” campaign to rid society of “repeat offenders”. Rumors said that the real motive behind the campaign was a war between factions in the intelligence services, who had become accustomed to using petty criminals for small jobs. Around 5000 may have been killed as a part of “petrus” from 1983 through 1986. Xanana Gusmao and an ABRI commander during the brief cease-fire in East Timor in 1983. Gusmao led a low-level guerilla action (Fretilin) against Indonesian forces in East Timor throughout the 1980s. By 1989, the Indonesian government felt comfortable enough to reopen East Timor to foreign travelers. Gusmao was captured in 1992. 1984 Repelita IV begins. Suharto states that all organizations must adopt Pancasila. May 30 Bill introduced into Assembly that organizations must adopt Pancasila as their doctrine. Unrest around Jayapura in Irian Jaya; some rebels retreat from Indonesia to Papua New Guinea. August Radical Islamic speakers give anti-Chinese, anti-Christian and anti-government sermons in poor areas of Jakarta, including Tanjung Priok. August 20-22 PPP congress accepts Pancasila as guiding doctrine. September 8-10 Disputes between a local mosque in the Tanjung Priok district of Jakarta and security officers sent to investigate anti-government leafleting turn to violence and arrests. (Mosque leaders accuse soldiers of defiling the mosque by entering with their boots on, and using dirty water to loosen and remove posters from the walls.) September 12 A demonstration in Tanjung Priok demanding the release of arrested activists is fired on by troops; 63 are killed. General rioting breaks out in the area. Hundreds of arrests are made. September 18 Group of government critics, including Dharsono, issues paper (Lembaran Putih or “White Report”) describing the Tanjung Priok incident. October 4 Bombing attacks kill two in Jakarta; targets are Bank Central Asia and a shopping center in Glodok, the Chinese quarter. October 29 Explosions rock an ABRI munitions dump near Jakarta, 15 are killed. November 8 Dharsono is arrested for subversion. December Muhammadiyah accepts Pancasila as doctrine. December 8 Nahdlaturl Ulama, under Abdurrahman Wahid, accepts Pancasila as doctrine. December 22 Assembly passes law requiring all political parties to adopt Pancasila as doctrine. December 24 Church bombings in East Java. The Tanjung Priok incident remains a sore point to this day. The head of ABRI at that time was Gen. Benny Moerdani, a Christian. The response of moderate Islamic politicians was to call for a freer and more equitable society, while a minority of radical Muslims used the incident to justify the scapegoating of Christians and Chinese that had helped spark the tragedy in the first place. The exact details of the events leading up to the shootings are difficult to determine (the “Lembaran Putih” and the statements of Gen. Moerdani agree on the broad facts, but disagree on hundreds of small details), but that unarmed civilians died after being fired on by troops cannot be disputed. In October and November, a series of spectacular fires occurred in and around Jakarta, causing expensive, but scattered, property damage. No cause was ever reported. In 1984, the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta was completed. It was later reported that Sigit Harjoyudanto, a son of President Suharto, had pocketed over US$78 million in cost overruns from the project. 1985 January 10 Trials begin for those arrested during and after the Tanjung Priok incident. January 21 Radical Muslims explode bombs at Borobudur, damaging the monument. All labor unions are merged into SPSI. Nahdatul Ulama votes to leave the PPP party and withdraw from politics. April 1 VAT (value added tax) is introduced. May 1 Customs service is contracted out to Société Générale de Surveillance, a private Swiss firm, in an attempt to stop corruption. May Government issues first public financial report on Pertamina in ten years. Assembly passes law requiring all organizations to adopt Pancasila. June Trials against Islamic activists occur across Java. July Mysterious fires destroy several buildings in Jakarta, including the state radio and TV stations. August Hundreds of alleged PKI supporters are removed from government jobs. Many PKI prisoners from the 1965 events are executed. Ginanjar Kartasasmita is named to head Capital Investment Coordinating Agency, which permits or restricts foreign investments. 1986 March 24 Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam meets at Medan and accepts Pancasila as doctrine, under pressure from the government; organization splits over the issue. April 10 Sydney Morning Herald publishes article on corruption by Suharto and his family. April 30 U.S. President Reagan visits Indonesia; two reporters in the entourage are denied entry. May Relations between Indonesia and Australia deteriorate due to the Sydney Morning Herald article. Plane of Australian tourists is turned back at Denpasar, Bali. May 6 Fiscal and monetary reforms are instituted. September Rupiah devalued again; oil prices hit bottom; exports begin growing. October Friendship treaty between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. October World Bank issues report critical of the government’s transmigrasi campaigns. October 9 Sinar Harapan newspaper is banned. Jakarta authorities order becaks off of city streets; 20,000 becaks are dumped in the sea. 1987 April 23 Golkar receives 3/4 of vote in elections. Number of seats in Assembly (DPR) is increased. Of 500 members, 100 are appointed ABRI officers. Gold rush in East Kalimantan province. Citra Lamtoro Gung Group, a business consortium headed by Suharto’s daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (or “Tutut”), is granted a concession to build a toll road in Jakarta, beating out two more competitive bids. December 10 Pelajar Islam Indonesia organization is banned due to its opposition to taking Pancasila as a guiding doctrine. December 25 Government announces that most regulations on exports will be dropped, many other economic reforms. 1988 January 5 Government budget reveals that 36% of projected income for the year will go to service the national debt. March 10 Suharto is elected by the Assembly (MPR) to a fifth term as President. Sudharmono is Vice-President. March Ali Alatas is foreign minister. May Gunung Api on Banda erupts. Freeport-McMoran, after a period of lesser returns from its copper mining in Irian Jaya, begins to step up activities again after the discovery of new copper, silver and gold fields. August The RCTI television service, owned by Suharto’s son Bambang Trihatmojo, begins broadcasting in Jakarta. September 5 Kopkamtib security force, established during events of 1965, headed by Gen. Murdani, is replaced by Bakorstanas, headed by Gen. Try Sutrisno. Unlike Kopkamtib, Bakorstanas is answerable directly to President Suharto. October 27 Banking deregulation is instituted; banks are allowed to open branches outside the cities. Capital markets and foreign investment are partially deregulated. Economic liberalization takes hold. November 21 Import controls are loosened; shipping and trade are partially deregulated. Economy starts rapid growth. November 28 Government announces restrictions on the activities of foreign missionaries. Sudharmono is replaced as Golkar chair under army pressure, but is chosen by Suharto to be Vice-President. Gen. Benny Murdani is removed as head of ABRI, but is made defense minister. Try Sutrisno becomes head of ABRI. 1989 February 6-8 Army suppresses clash over land rights in Lampung; as many as 100 are killed. March Clandestine operations against rebels in Irian Jaya begin; continue through August. March 7 Hamengkubuwono X becomes Sultan of Yogyakarta. March 10 Riots in Lhokseumawe, Aceh. April Ten Batak women are sentenced to six months in prison for cutting down trees belonging to Indorayon in the Tapanuli area of North Sumatra. The trees had been planted on traditional grazing lands. June Government audit shows that two-thirds of state-run businesses are financially unsound. July 4 The International Coffee Organization eliminates its quota system for exports. The change leads to much higher coffee exports from Indonesia, but also to lower prices due to oversupply. East Timor reopened to foreign tourists; restrictions on internal travel are lifted. August A theatrical retelling of the trial of Syekh Sitti Jenar from 500 years earlier, to be performed in Yogyakarta, is cancelled by the police. Clash between Islamic activists and ABRI troops at Bima. Repelita V begins. September Suharto visits Moscow. October Censorship board is founded to make recommendations to the Attorney General regarding bans on books and publications. Members include the ABRI and intelligence officers. October 12 Pope visits East Timor. Riots in Dili. Economic growth started to speed up in 1989, with a variety of moves toward economic liberalization. Some government figures called for free markets and globalization, while others called for subsidizing development in the national interest. In 1989, clashes between the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM), supporting independence for Aceh, and ABRI troops became more frequent. Aceh was declared a “daerah operasi militer” under martial law. 1990 January SCTV private television station begins broadcasting in Surabaya. Indonesia and China restore diplomatic ties. March Suharto gathers 30 of the top businessmen in Indonesia to his ranch in West Java, and tells them publicly that they should sell up to 25% of their businesses to “cooperatives”. April Indonesia and Papua New Guinea sign security agreement. April Inflation fears lead the central bank to tighten the money supply. Interest rates rise sharply; the stock market in Jakarta begins a steep fall. June Indonesian forces pursue Irian Jaya rebels into Papua New Guinea territory. July 14 RCTI television, owned by Suharto’s son Bambang Trihatmojo, is given permission to broadcast as a normal television service without requiring a decoder. August Military command in North Sumatra bans a Batak Protestant legal aid foundation and cancels a regional church conference. September Clashes between Indonesian forces and OPM guerillas around Skouw, east of Jayapura. Bank Duta announces losses of US$420 million from foreign exchange trading. At the time, Bank Duta was 70% owned by charities or “yayasan” connected with President Suharto. Chinese-Indonesian businessmen Liem Sioe Liong and Prajogo Pangestu put up US$490 million to cover the losses. October Indonesia and Papua New Guinea ratify the April security agreement. October 17 Police in Jakarta cancel the theater license for the comedy “Suksesi”, about a king who is unable to choose a successor. October 22 Demonstrations in Yogya against the conviction of a Universitas Gadjah Madah student for distributing works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer. October 23 Publication license for the entertainment tabloid Monitor is revoked without the usual prior warnings, for publishing a popularity poll that ranked several celebrities and political figures over the prophet Muhammad, following several days of street protests in Jakarta by Muslim organizations against the Catholic editor and owners of Monitor. October Indonesia threatens to boycott goods from European countries that follow a European Parliament resolution to ban timber imports from Sarawak in Malaysia due to deforestation. November 11 President Suharto leaves on a two-week trip to Japan, China and Vietnam. November 14 70 Indonesian soldiers are killed in a battle with Fretilin guerillas near Ainaro, East Timor. Army lands several thousand reinforcements later in the month. November 15 Earthquake near Medan. November 20 The International Herald Tribune and Asian Wall Street Journal are pulled from distribution in Indonesia due to articles on the business enterprises of the Suharto family. November 28 A run of the play “Opera Kecoa” is closed just before opening day by police in Jakarta. November 29 Bajaj drivers in Jakarta protest government attempts to ban them from central thoroughfares. December Bank Umum Majapahit Jaya collapses, leaving unpaid obligations to several other commercial banks in Jakarta. Small runs on several banks follow. December 7 B.J. Habibie founds ICMI at a conference at Universitas Brawijaya in Malang. December 13 Japan pledges a US$1.2 billion aid package for Indonesia. December 29 Government decree requires cigarette manufacturers to buy all cloves from a new Clove Support and Trading Board at set prices starting January 1. The Board is primarily controlled by a company owned by Tommy Suharto, thus giving him an effective monopoly on the clove trade. ICMI (the Indonesian Association of Muslim Intellectuals) received encouragement from Suharto as a competitor to Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, organizations that were beyond the government’s control. Unrest in Aceh continued in 1990, with hundreds of officially unexplained killings and disappearances. Some cases involved military pressure on GAM forces and supporting villages; others involved GAM members intimidating transmigrants of Javanese descent and persons with suspected military ties. 1991 January 7 Lampung forestry office reports that 35% of protected forest areas in the province have been occupied by squatters. January 23 Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (or “Tutut”), daughter of Suharto, founds the TPI television network. TPI is allowed to use state-run TVRI facilities without charge. Indonesia begins hosting talks on Spratly Islands dispute. Protests by Muslims over a proposed government lottery. April Democracy Forum founded, led by Abdurrahman Wahid of NU. October 30 Bank Mualamat Indonesia is founded for observant Muslims, with significant support from Suharto and B.J. Habibie. November 12 Unrest in East Timor; soldiers fire on demonstrators in Dili, resulting in over 200 dead. 1992 March 200,000 attend mass NU rally in Jakarta. March PT Manajeman Musyarakah Indonesia is founded by Sri Bintang Pamungkas of ICMI as an organization to help link Muslim small businessmen with sources of capital. Indonesia and Papua New Guinea officials meet to discuss the disposition of more than 6000 refugees that had fled Irian Jaya to Papua New Guinea after fighting between Indonesian forces and rebels. April Suharto abolishes IGGI consortium of foreign-aid organizations; tells Dutch in particular to “go to hell” with aid. May 8 Informal meeting at Depok among university and private telecommunications experts leads to plans for connecting Indonesia to the Internet. (The attendees would later be known as the “Paguyuban” group.) Bob Hasan acquires 80% of Nusamba corporation, with interests in finance, energy paper mills, and the Freeport mining operations in Irian Jaya, with no clear indication of how the transaction was financed. June Golkar wins 70% of vote in elections. PPP gains 17%. Bank Summa collapses. September Indonesia takes chairmanship of Non-Aligned Movement for three years. November 20 Xanana Gusmao is captured in East Timor and sentenced to life in prison. Fretilin rebellion weakens. December 12 Severe earthquake hits Flores; 2200 are killed. The Dutch and other western countries had been pressuring the Indonesian government on human rights issues. Suharto’s “go to hell” remark was a reminder of the aggressive (and popular) stance against foreign influence that Sukarno took in the 1950s. 1993 January Pressure from rank and file in PDI not to renominate Suharto for president is deflected by PDI head Suryadi. Natsir passes away. March Suharto elected by Assembly to sixth term; shuffles cabinet, B.J. Habibie and Ginanjar Kartasasmita gain prestige. Try Sutrisno is Vice-President. March 4 The .id Internet domain for Indonesia is established. President Suharto ends the state monopoly on telecommunications by PT Telkom. Licenses for international direct-dial and mobile phone services are awarded to Satelindo, a company controlled by Suharto’s son Bambang Trihatmodjo. Satelindo is not asked to make any payment for the licenses. The Indonesian Film Festival is cancelled, due to a lack of domestic films to show. Feisal Tanjung becomes head of ABRI. May Leader of OPM (Irian Jaya rebels, Organisasi Papua Merdeka) Marthen Luther Prawar is killed in a clash with Indonesian forces. October Harmoko becomes Golkar chairman. December Megawati Sukarnoputri is chosen as the new chair of the PDI party. In 1993, Suharto’s government issued 50000 Rupiah banknotes with Suharto’s own portrait on them, describing him as “Bapak Pembangunan Indonesia”, or the “father of Indonesian development”. The notes were withdrawn from circulation after his resignation a few years later. 1994 April Tommy Suharto founds the Goro supermarket chain, and the Central Village Cooperative, a government-run organization for farmers, with US$100 million in loans from Bank Bumi Daya. (The loans are never repaid.) June State-run IPTEKnet for science and technology becomes the first Internet service provider in Indonesia. Government cancels the publishing license for “Tempo”, the largest magazine in Indonesia; the magazine continued to be published on the Internet. November Indonesia is APEC chair for 1994, hosting a summit conference at Bogor. Bogor Declaration calls for free trade and investment throughout the APEC nations by 2020. Repelita VI begins. In late 1994 and early 1995, there were reports that Indonesian forces had killed as many as 37 people who were protesting the activities of the Freeport copper mine in Irian Jaya. 1995 February Sri Bintang Pamungkas is expelled from the PPP party for criticizing the government. August 16 Subandrio and former Air Force head Omar Dhani are released from prison. Toll road concessions belonging to companies under Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (or “Tutut”), a daughter of President Suharto, are extended through the year 2024. September Christian mobs burn down homes and shops belonging to Muslims in Dili and other cities in East Timor. October OPM rebels burn the Indonesian consulate in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. Raids along the border continue through November. December East Timorese protesters invade several foreign embassies in Jakarta. 1996 February Hotel and restaurant owners on Bali refuse to buy beer after a company owned by Suharto’s grandson Ari Sigit Suharto receives a license to collect taxes on each bottle of beer sold. The tax is revoked. April 28 First lady Ibu Tien Suharto passes away. May Wealthy businessman Eddy Tansil, in jail for corruption, disappears from jail under mysterious circumstances. May 8 Sri Bintang Pamungkas, an opposition politician, is sentenced to 34 months in jail for “insulting the president” in a speech given in Berlin. June Split in the PDI party: a pro-Suharto faction meets in rump convention in Medan and chooses Suryadi as leader; a Megawati faction regroups in Jakarta. July 27 Offices of the pro-Megawati PDI faction in Jakarta are raided by police and troops, sparking riots in Jakarta. Several dozen are killed or disappear in the chaos. October Anti-Christian violence in Situbondo, East Java. November Bishop Belo of East Timor and Jose Ramos-Horta, a Fretilin overseas advocate, are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. December 26 Anti-Christian riots in Tasikmalaya, West Java. During 1996, Suharto’s son Sigit Harjoyudanto and daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (”Tutut”) competed for rights to develop the Busang gold field in Kalimantan Barat province. Both of them had foreign partners: Sigit’s partner was Barrick Gold; Tutut’s partner was the Bre-X Minerals. The reports of rich gold fields turned out to be fraudulent, and thousands of foreign investors lost money on the scheme, notably many Canadians. 1997 Forest fires on Sumatra and Kalimantan spread haze across the region. Ethnic violence breaks out in West Kalimantan between Dayaks and Madurese settlers; as many as 1000 are killed. March Sri Bintang Pamungkas, having been released pending appeal, is arrested again on subversion charges for founding a reformist political party. May Golkar gets 74% of the vote in tightly-controlled elections. July Financial crisis in Thailand begins period of economic troubles across Asia. The Indonesian rupiah begins to fall along with other regional currencies. Suharto’s grandson Ari Sigit Suharto starts planning his “national shoe project”, which would require all Indonesian schoolchildren to buy school shoes from his company. October Rupiah falls below Rp 4000 to US$1. Indonesian government asks International Monetary Fund for aid. November IMF approves loan package for Indonesia which requires Indonesia to reform its economy, end many state subsidies and reduce cronyism. Many Suharto family enterprises are affected by the requirements of the loan package, including Tommy Suharto’s monopoly on the clove trade, which is required to be cancelled. December Rumors persist that President Suharto is ill. Rupiah goes into free-fall against world currencies. January 1998January Suharto announces yearly budget with heavy subsidies for pet projects contrary to the conditions for receiving IMF aid. IMF director Camdessus goes to Jakarta to get Suharto to sign a fresh letter of intent to fulfill the IMF obligations. Rupiah falls to Rp 17000 to US$1 on the news that B. J. Habibie, a longtime supporter and beneficiary of government subsidized industries, is likely to be the next Vice-President, then recovers back to 12000. Almost all Indonesian businesses that have borrowed from foreign banks are now technically bankrupt. January 24 Riots begin to break out in East Java over rising food prices. February 1998February 2 Riots in Donggala, Sulawesi, and Pasuruan, East Java. February 7 Riots on Sumbawa. February 9 Riots on Flores. February 12 Riots in several West Java cities. February 14 Rioting on Lombok. Violence continues in West Java towns. Shops close in Bandung. February 18 Thousands riot in Kendari, Sulawesi. Suharto names General Wiranto to the be new head of ABRI. Suharto considers a plan to form a “currency board” in order to stabilize the rupiah. Despite much skepticism, the rupiah rises almost to Rp 8000 to US$1. Suharto fires the governor of the central bank. IMF threatens to cut off funds if the currency board is implemented. March 1998March Suharto is elected by assembly to another five-year term. Habibie is the new Vice-President. Large student protests take place across Java and in Ujung Pandang. IPTN aircraft manufacturing plant in Bandung. IPTN was a pet project of B. J. Habibie. April 1998April Protests continue on university campuses across Indonesia. Protests in Medan lead to rioting, looting and arson. Gen. Wiranto warns against anarchy. Amien Rais says he is willing to lead a “People Power” movement for change. Courtesy————————–Islam Muslim Islamic banking finance insurance marriage clothing fashion software qurban Makkah & Madinah.