Even once confirmed by parliament, Habibie is unlikely to serve out his five-year term, Colmey reports. Instead, his stewardship will be a means of ensuring constitutional stability while the countrys traditional elites in the military, business and politics conduct a fierce behind-the-scenes struggle for power.
Indonesian Troops Crack Down
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JAKARTA: Indonesias protesting students got a brutal back-to-school order from the nations generals tonight. Troops stormed parliament swinging batons, and then marched the protesters who had occupied the building all week out to waiting buses. TIME correspondent John Colmey reports that the crackdown had been predicted, as part of the militarys attempt to stabilize the government of B.J. Habibie following the ouster of President Suharto. The demonstrators rejected Habibie and had vowed to occupy parliament until their demands were met. But Habibies appointment needs to be confirmed by parliament, and that wasnt going to happen while placard-wielding students danced in the aisles.