President Suharto's decisive and sometimes ruthless exercise of power over the Indonesian archipelago has earned him a reputation as a shrewd dictator. A simple man who does not burden himself with complicated studies and reports, Suharto is said to make decisions both large and small on the basis of strong political instincts. He also consults Javanese seers and psychics for guidance and inspiration.
Ministers complain about having to take policy cues from vague hints and offhand comments.
Whatever the formula or method of rule, the iron grip of Asia's most durable dictator is slipping. That the unraveling of Suharto's New Order has been gaining momentum is evident from the events of this year, the worst the former general has endured since he seized control of the country three decades ago. Although Indonesia is a sprawling and diverse country, Suharto managed to concentrate tremendous power for himself in the decade after he came to power in 1965. He accomplished this through a systematic attack on all competing centers of institutional, ideological, and personal power. One result of this concentration was that the president's rule became more simplified.