Max Lane

  • ASIET attends human rights meeting in Jakarta

    ASIET attends human rights meeting in JakartaOn September 28-30, human rights and solidarity groups from around Asia met in Jakarta to discuss coordinating campaigns in support of democratisation in Indonesia. Groups based in

  • Malaysia: Will Mahathir follow Suharto?

    The widespread protests against the Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammad's sacking of deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim have revealed an unexpected depth of discontent among urban Malay youth and professionals. Twice during the

  • Kidnap victims protest

    Kidnap victims protestRelatives and friends of 14 missing political activists held a demonstration on September 16, demanding to know the whereabouts of their sons and friends. Among the protesters was the mother of the Bima

  • Students protest 'dual role' of military

    Students protest 'dual role' of militaryOn September 14, student militants organised protest actions in eight Indonesian cities calling for the end to dwifungsi ABRI (the dual role of the armed forces). The dwifungsi doctrine, which

  • Habibie regime behind anti-Chinese violence

    As rioting and looting spreads to more provincial towns in Indonesia, there is a growing danger that these outbreaks may be transformed into anti-Chinese riots. During the last 30 years, social and economic frustration amongst

  • Wiranto, Amien Rais defend Habibie

    Speaking at a media conference on September 11, Indonesia's armed forces chief General Wiranto said the military would take strong action against student demonstrations. Wiranto warned, referring to student actions, that "freedom

  • Student demonstrations resume

    Student demonstrations resumeOn September 8 in Jakarta, 2000 students joined a march and rally at the national parliament building. Several hundred students, who stayed overnight, were violently ousted from the parliamentary grounds,

  • 200,000 rally in Yogyakarta

    200,000 rally in YogyakartaOn August 26, 200,000 people rallied in Yogyakarta to protest against the refusal of the Indonesian government to ratify Sultan Hamengku Buwono X as governor of Yogyakarta. The rally adopted a manifesto

  • Protests escalate and PRD flags unfurl

    By Max Lane and Pramono (in Jakarta) The frequency of protest actions in Indonesia has increased markedly over the last week. Worsening economic conditions, general anger over the lack of any real changes under the Habibie regime and students'

  • Insincere apologies from Indonesian government

    Insincere apologies from Indonesian governmentOn August 15, President B.J. Habibie promised that the Indonesian parliament — the one "elected" under the rigged laws of the Suharto dictatorship — would now respect human rights.

  • Court un-bans PRD, but harassment continues

    On August 10, Indonesia's State Administrative Court upheld an appeal by Budiman Sujatmiko, as president of the People's Democratic Party (PRD), against a ministerial regulation banning the PRD and its affiliated mass organisations. The

  • Spreading protests undermine Indonesian military

    Spreading protests undermine Indonesian militaryEight weeks after the forced resignation of President Suharto, a strong campaign by human rights groups has forced the Habibie-Wiranto regime to admit that the elite commando corps,