The Fall of Suharto: A Retrospective

Last Updated: 17 April 2008

Indonesian President Suharto announces his resignation on 21 May, 1998, following 32 years of power. [AFP]

Indonesian President Suharto announces his resignation on 21 May, 1998, following 32 years of power. [AFP]

May 2008 marks ten years since the fall of the late Indonesian president and dictator Suharto.

The Asian financial crisis provided the backdrop for three days of rioting in which around 1,000 Indonesians were killed.

Late last year our correspondent, Joanna McCarthy, was in Jakarta, where she spoke to people about their memories of those stormy days.

She filed this retrospective on the last days of the Suharto regime.


The Fall of Suharto: A Retrospective


Originally broadcast on Radio Australia's Connect Asia program on 21 March, 2008.

The Tipping Point

It may be difficult to pinpoint the moment when the regime of former Indonesian president and dictator Suharto began its final descent.

But Doug Ramage, the Indonesia country director for the Asia Foundation, says the flashpoint was the rising price of milk.

Riots in the Streets

Violence and looting soon erupted across Jakarta, spreading from the city's Chinatown district to other parts of the city.

Four shopping malls were burned to the ground, many with people trapped inside.

Time to Resign

President Suharto promised he would call new elections, and would not stand for president.

But he set no timetable for his departure.

A Timeline of Key Events

The final days and weeks of Suharto's rule left a lasting impression on Indonesia's political landscape.

Extended Interviews and Archive Recordings

Hear Radio Australia's live coverage of President Suharto's resignation, and extended interviews with those on the ground during the riots and their aftermath.