A great mass movement forged the fall of dictator Suharto. He was in control of Indonesia for the last 32years.

His inevitable separation from the Presidency resulted from his political failure, in the midst of street protests demanding his resignation. He intended to overrun them with the designation of one of his old-time cronies as President, for the remaining period, with the hope his nomination would continue the same policies. In his first statement, the successor Habibie, already declared himself in compliance to the MFI and World Bank formulas. The same forces -armed or unarmed, native or foreign- which gave Suharto their support along decades, also backed him up in his last subterfuge, hoping to remain operating behind the scene.

But the Indonesian people understood the intention of such decission perfectly well. From the first moment, voices rised not only to celebrate the fall of the dictator, but also to claim for a democratic solution to the crisis, and for a change in the economic orientation.

These are ten of the demands that became relevant:

1. The rejection of Baharuddin Jusuf Habibie, as substitute President, and the beginning of a process to destitute him.
2. The establishment of a Revolutionary Council in charge of the Government representing the democratic forces.
3. There exist at this moment a great problem of representativity in the legislative bodies ( Mejelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat and the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat) that affects it's legitimacy which must be resolved through effective democratic elections in order to renew such bodies.

 

4. A reform to the 1945 Constitution in order to ensure the fulfillment of the Five Principles (Pancasila) fundamentaly those related with equality, social justice and democracy. In this last aspect, the reelection of the President and the members of the Legislative bodies must be forbidden , in order to avoid any new autocratic instalation. Also the represive legislation such as the Law of Subversion must be abolished.
5. The indictment of Suharto and his principal collaborators in the Government, to political and criminal trials, accusing them of illiegal enrichment and other crimes against Humanity.

 

6. The establishment of a social and economic policy for the reconstruction and development of popular income. Also, the demand to nationalize the main monopolies and conglomerates. Land property must be distributed according to the Five Principles.
7. A total opposition to Northamerican influence regarding the development of the Indonesian society.

 

8. Only representative bodies of the popular sovereignty will direct the finances and economy of Indonesia, and not the World Bank or the IMF.
9. Freedom to all political prisoners.

 

10. The reorganization and retirement of the high command of the military forces.

This agenda will grow as days go by. But as it seems, the main issue is related to the refusal to accept the political mascarade underlying this change of guard planned by Suharto and his advisers.

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