May 12, 1998

THE parking lot at Trisakti University was filled with people at 11am. Professors, lecturers, students, employees and alumni had gathered to hear a speech by ex-Army Chief, General Abdul Haris Nasution.

By noon, more people had come. It was getting quite hot when about 5,000 students shouted in unison, “Lower the prices of basic necessities! Political Reform! Suharto, step down!”

The senior general, Abdul Haris, failed to make