Suharto's power grew from all this, but the legitimacy he commanded in the early years began to hollow out. Widening discontent awaited only a spark to burst into flame. If the first half of 1998 in Indonesia was dominated by Suharto's fall, the second was haunted by it. His hapless successor, B.J. Habibie, faced a violence-prone political culture and a ruined economic landscape. A food crisis threatened 70 million Indonesians, who discovered how years of industrial expansion and a strong currency had robbed the nation of its ability to feed itself while raising its dependence on imported foodstuffs.
Few banks are even close to solvency.
The main catalyst of the devastation may have gone, but the national drama continues. In 1999, with elections, cynical maneuvering by power groups, growing divisions between the elite and the masses, and a continuing economic crisis, violence could easily escalate. This was the year Suharto left a burning house. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you.