Soeharto Resigns After 32 Years As President Of Indonesia In History Today, May 21, 1998

President Suharto (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - On May 21, 1998, precisely at 09.00 WIB is a turning point for the people of Indonesia. After 32 years in charge, President Suharto announced his resignation.

Before resigning, many actions and events prompted Suharto to resign. On May 12, the Trisakti Tragedy killed four students in a demonstration.

Then, there was the action on May 18, 1998, in which a mob of students managed to control the mpr / dpr building complex. The barrage of pressure forced the neck of Suharto's rule.

Suharto meets scholars and community leaders

On May 19, 1998, Suharto met with scholars and community leaders, including Chairman of PB Nahdlatul Ulama Abdurrahman Wahid, Emha Ainun Nadjib, Director of Paramadina Nucholish Madjid Foundation, and Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council Ali Yafie, Prof Malik Fadjar (Muhammadiyah).

At the meeting Suharto stated that he would reshuffle the Seventh Development Cabinet and change its name to the Reform Cabinet. Nurcholish stated the idea of a cabinet reshuffle and forming a Reform Committee was purely from Suharto, not their proposal.

Although Suharto had given various ideas, there were already signs that he would resign. However, there were two people who disagreed with Suharto's resignation. This is considered not to solve the problem.

Suharto's resignation (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

But on the other hand, not a few parties also explicitly asked Suharto to step down. One of them is a statement from the Chairman of the House of Representatives / MPR Harmoko after the Meeting of Leaders of the House of Representatives on May 18, 1998.

Quoting Kompas, Friday, May 21, Harmoko stated that for the sake of national unity and unity, the leaders of the House of Representatives, both the Chairman and the vice chairmen, expected Suharto to resign from the presidency wisely and wisely.

Finally, on May 21, 1998, Suharto announced his resignation. The sense of disappointment is clearly visible.

In his speech, Suharto stated: I have stated the plan to establish a Reform Committee and change the composition of the 7th Development Cabinet, but the fact to this day shows that the Reform Committee could not be realized, due to the lack of adequate response to the plan to establish the committee.

The straining of Suharto and Habibie's relationship

Habibie was sworn in as President of Indonesia replacing Suharto (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

Didn't wait long. The Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia at the time, BJ Habibie, was immediately sworn in as president.

After taking the oath of office, Habibie and Suharto shook hands without saying a word. The atmosphere was tense between the two until Suharto left the room.

Unexpectedly. The meeting was the last between the two. Quoting Historia, Habibie spoke by phone on June 9, 1998, the day after Suharto's birthday.

In addition to congratulating him, Habibie also asked Suharto to meet. But Suharto refused.

"It is not favorable for the current situation, if I meet with Habibie. Do your job well, I can only do the job until here. I am old," suharto said.

Since then Suharto never wanted to see Habibie. In his writing in Decisive Seconds, Habibie said that until his presidential duties ended, he never managed to meet with Suharto, although Habibie worked many ways.

"I believe Mr. Harto has his own reasons, and may think I should not know. I sincerely if that's the will of Mr. Harto ... And the history of the sale later that will reveal the puzzle of this mysteriousness," said Habibie.

*Read more information about SOEHARTO or read other interesting writings from Putri Ainur Islam.

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