Suharto era ends Spiraling economic crisis and public unrest force Suharto out of office after a 32-year reign. Vice President B.J. Habibie is sworn in as president and calls for new multiparty elections and a referendum on independence in East Timor. Ethnic Chinese are targeted in violent riots, which leave 1,000 dead and force thousands of ethnic Chinese to flee the country. July 1998 Demonstrations in Irian Jaya Pro-independence demonstrations break out in towns across Irian Jaya on the anniversary of the Free West Papua Movement's 1963 proclamation of independence. Late 1998 Rioting continues across Indonesia Violence escalates between ethnic groups, separatist movements, and government troops in East Timor and Aceh.
Businesses owned by the country's ethnic Chinese minority are frequent targets of arson and looting.
Early 1999 Muslims, Christians clash Street battles between gangs of Muslims and Christians prompt the Indonesian military to send troops to the city of Ambon and other parts of the eastern Maluku province. January 1999 Aceh heats up After Acehnese villagers abduct and kill eight Indonesian soldiers, attacks by the army on civilians and separatists escalate. Gusm o released from prison Acting in response to a request from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Habibie releases Xanana Gusm o and places him under house arrest. Official results are not announced until August 10. Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle leads all parties with 34 percent of the vote.