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Suharto to quit, but when?

Protests continue

Suharto
Suharto  

In this story:

May 19, 1998
Web posted at: 1:33 p.m. EDT (1733 GMT)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Faced with growing civil unrest and a loss of confidence from Parliament, Indonesian President Suharto on Tuesday announced plans to end his 32-year rule, saying he would step down after introducing long called-for political reforms and holding parliamentary elections.

But with no firm timetable for his departure, thousands of angry students demanded he quit now.

Critics complained that Suharto, 76, was trying to prolong his time in office. Others said the ploy would help protect the vast business interests of his family.

Critics not satisfied

Students gathered at Parliament hours before Suharto's announcement, and their numbers swelled to 15,000 after he spoke.

"He has made many political promises in the past, but they were never fulfilled," said one student.

About 100 protesters climbed to the roof of the Parliament building, waving flags and banners. Others staged a sit-in within the legislature's complex, some planning to stay the night.

In Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, soldiers with sticks beat students who marched into the street, a witness said. About 20 protesters were injured.

Nationwide protests are planned for Wednesday, the 90th anniversary of the start of Indonesia's independence movement. Organizers predicted the demonstrations would bring as many as 1 million people into the streets of Jakarta and other cities.

New elections promised but no date set

Suharto's decision to relinquish power and hold new parliamentary elections follows months of protests which, in recent days, deteriorated into rioting that left 500 people dead.

Indonesia has been among the nations hardest hit by the Asian currency crisis. Economic reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund led to sharp increases in the price of food and fuel.

In a nationally televised address, Suharto said he will remain in office while he readies the country of 202 million people for a new political era.

"I will not be prepared to be elected any more," he said. "I have taken the decision as president to implement and lead the national reform immediately."

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He said a Cabinet reshuffle would be announced soon and he would appoint a special reform council to draft new laws for the elections and change the structure of Parliament.

Suharto did not give a time frame for when the elections would be held, but stressed he would follow the country's 1945 constitution. The process could take months.

"If we do not uphold the constitution, the country will be finished," the Indonesian president said.

He spoke in a somber monotone and with his head down as he read from a text. At times during his speech, he paused for several seconds.

President calls for calm

Suharto has been Asia's longest-serving leader. He has served six five-year terms unchallenged as head of state and was reappointed to a seventh term unanimously by a national assembly only last March. He was to have ended that term in 2003.

"There is no need to worry that I will defend my right to the presidency," Suharto said. "That is not at all the case."

In his speech, Suharto emphasized continuity and urged calm in the world's fourth most populous nation. "Let us all now contemplate in a profound way the destiny of our nation," he said. "Do not allow emotions to go out of control."

"Let us not allow our legacy to degenerate into chaos. Let us honor the legacy of our independence heroes who have given their lives for the creation of our great nation."

Maria Ressa reports on upcoming nationwide demonstrations
icon 281K/24 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

"I would like to take this opportunity also to express my condolences to the people who fell victim to the unrest," Suharto said in an unusually candid speech. "May God bless the relatives they left behind and may they have the strength to face the future."

Markets rebound

Indonesia's battered financial markets took heart from Suharto's announcement. The nation's currency, the rupiah, rebounded to 12,125 against the dollar after sinking to a record low of 17,000 earlier in the day, and stocks gained 6 percent for the day.

Shares in businesses controlled by Suharto's family were particularly strong.

Nonetheless, some 200 stockbrokers and other professionals, calling themselves Solidarity of Professionals for Reform, demonstrated near the Jakarta Stock Exchange after the announcement.

"I'm not optimistic if the reform process is led by President Suharto because of the fact that he has often corrected his earlier statements," said Sukarman, an employee of a brokerage firm.

A tank was positioned outside the exchange, and about 50 troops were posted inside but there were no reports of trouble.

Suharto's rule was thrown into the balance Monday when the speaker of Parliament said lawmakers would demand the president's resignation for the sake of national unity.

But the all-powerful military, dominated by Suharto loyalists and former aides, quashed that idea, saying it was unconstitutional.

Jakarta Bureau Chief Maria Ressa, Correspondent Mike Chinoy, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report.

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