Senja Akhir Orde Baru

Summary

The transcript chronicles the decline of Indonesia's New Order regime under President Soeharto, highlighting key events from the early 1990s through the 1998 reforms. It explores growing discontent due to political repression, human rights abuses, and economic crises. The turning point comes with widespread student protests and the May 1998 tragedy, including the shooting of four students at Trisakti University. This leads to Soeharto's resignation, though the push for reform continues, marking the beginning of Indonesia's transition towards democracy and the end of the authoritarian rule.

Takeaways

• 😀 The New Order regime, led by Soeharto, began facing decline in the early 1990s, with support gradually waning.
• 😀 The 1992 election showed a decline in Golkar's vote share, with two rival parties gaining support, signaling growing dissatisfaction, particularly among young voters.
• 😀 The regime attempted both persuasive and repressive political actions to maintain power, including engaging with former enemies and using force against demonstrators.
• 😀 The Santa Cruz massacre in 1991, where Indonesian military forces killed pro-independence demonstrators, sparked international outrage and led to increased global criticism of human rights violations by the regime.
• 😀 The 1993 labor demonstrations and subsequent state-sponsored violence, including the kidnapping and murder of activists, further eroded public trust in the regime.
• 😀 The crackdown on independent media in 1994, such as the banning of Tempo magazine, was a key moment in the regime's move to suppress dissenting voices, further damaging its credibility.
• 😀 Despite criticism, the New Order regime managed to win the 1997 elections, but internal corruption, nepotism, and economic mismanagement led to rising public discontent.
• 😀 By 1998, the economic crisis worsened, with Soeharto's heavy reliance on foreign loans failing to address the country's problems, deepening the public's dissatisfaction with the regime.
• 😀 Students became increasingly vocal in calling for reforms, leading to mass protests and violent crackdowns by the regime, including kidnappings and killings of activists during the 1998 student movements.
• 😀 The killing of four students during a peaceful protest at Trisakti University on May 12, 1998, marked a turning point, intensifying the movement for reform and leading to widespread demonstrations and unrest.
• 😀 The mounting pressure from students, civil society, and the worsening economic crisis forced Soeharto to resign on May 21, 1998, ending the New Order regime and signaling the beginning of Indonesia's reform era.

Q & A

What significant event marked the beginning of the decline of the New Order regime in Indonesia?

The decline of the New Order regime began with the 1992 general elections, where despite Golkar winning, the number of votes decreased compared to the 1987 elections, indicating a loss of popular support, especially among younger voters.

How did the Indonesian government respond to declining support in the early 1990s?

The government responded by employing both persuasive political tactics, like engaging with former opponents, and repressive measures, such as increasing military and police actions to maintain control.

What was the Santa Cruz incident, and why was it significant?

The Santa Cruz incident occurred in November 1991 in East Timor, where the Indonesian military shot and killed pro-independence demonstrators. It garnered international attention and contributed to a significant decline in the regime's popularity due to the blatant human rights violations.

How did the international community react to the human rights violations by the New Order regime?

The international community, particularly through forums like the IGGI (Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia), responded by halting financial aid and loans to Indonesia due to the increasing violations of human rights under the New Order regime.

What role did media censorship play during the New Order regime?

Media censorship played a critical role in suppressing opposition. In 1994, magazines like Tempo were banned after being critical of the regime, further eroding public trust in the government and highlighting its authoritarian nature.

What was the outcome of the 1997 elections in Indonesia?

Golkar, the political vehicle of the New Order regime, won the 1997 elections, but the legitimacy of the victory was questioned as the regime's practices of corruption, collusion, and nepotism became more evident.

How did Soeharto's appointment of his family members to key positions impact the regime's popularity?

Soeharto's appointment of his daughter and close allies to prominent government positions during the 1998 cabinet formation led to widespread disillusionment, as it was seen as a sign of deepening nepotism and corruption.

What economic crisis exacerbated the situation for the New Order regime in the late 1990s?

The 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis severely affected Indonesia's economy, leading to skyrocketing inflation, a devalued currency, and widespread unemployment, which further fueled discontent with Soeharto's leadership.

What triggered the large-scale student protests in 1998?

The large-scale student protests in 1998 were triggered by the worsening economic crisis, widespread corruption, and the increasing repression under Soeharto's regime. Students demanded political reform and the end of Soeharto's rule.

How did Soeharto's presidency come to an end?

Soeharto's presidency ended on May 21, 1998, after intense student protests and escalating public unrest. He resigned under pressure, appointing his vice president, BJ Habibie, as his successor, marking the official end of the New Order regime.