Trisakti shootings
Trisakti shootings The Indonesian economy suffered in 1997 and 1998 due to the Asian financial crisis. The value of the Rupiah plummeted, with a record exchange rate of 2,682 rupiah per US$ by 13 August 1997 and continuing to free-fall. By 1998, hundreds of students from universities across the country were demonstrating calling for President Suharto's resignation. A 16 May 1998 demonstration at the Bandung Institute of Technology saw 500 demonstrators, and by March larger demonstrations had occurred at the University of Indonesia and Gadjah Mada University. On 9 May 1998, a police officer, Dadang Rusmana, was reported to have been killed at a demonstration at Djuanda University. A planned non-violent protest against the Suharto government started at Trisakti University on 12 May 1998. By 10:00 WIB, over 6,000 students, lecturers, and staff had assembled in the university parking lot. The demonstrators began by lowering the Indonesian flag to half mast. As noon approached, protes...