Chaos Theory
Indonesia's Wahid desperately clings to power
President Wahid uses the tinderboxes of Ambon, Aceh and West Papua as a reason for him to stay in power. Without him, he argues, the regions would explode and fight harder than ever for independence. Yet his grip on the country grows ever shakier.
Meanwhile, we reveal that the army orchestrated many violent incidents - such as bombings - aimed at provoking more disunity. With its close ties to Indonesia’s ‘leader in waiting’, Vice-president Megawati, the military has lost patience with Wahid’s attempts at dialogue. They favour a crackdown on the separatists. In the middle of this power struggle are the people who helped oust Suharto and who now blame Wahid for failing to implement the anti-corruption, anti-military reforms they fought for. “People want to taste justice right now. They deserve it - for thirty years they never tasted justice”. Violent riots show the student movement taking ‘justice’ into its own hands. We expose the shadowy players and identify an unlikely alliance between Wahid’s political enemies. A worrying look at Indonesia on the brink.
Produced by ABC Australia
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