1996
July 27 — Suharto cracks down on a protest at the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) after Megawati Sukarnoputri was deposed as PDI leader by the military. Riots break out and the regime blames the People's Democratic Party (PRD). Eighteen PRD members, including Dita Sari and Budiman Sujatmiko, are arrested.
1997
March 23 — Riots break out in East Timor after the United Nations' special envoy to East Timor visits. Forty-eight people are arrested and two students are killed.
April 15 — More than 15,000 Megawati supporters march on parliament demanding democracy. Police fire tear gas on protesters.
April 22 — Dita Sari is sentenced to six years' jail. Around 13,000 Nike workers strike for the minimum wage.
April 28 — Budiman Sujatmiko is sentenced to 13 years' jail.
May 14 — More than 1.5 million people rally in Jakarta behind the banners of the United Development Party and Megawati in a semi-spontaneous protest for democracy.
May 29 — Suharto "wins" the elections. Fourteen protesters are murdered in East Timor. The student protest movement begins.
1998
May 21 — Suharto is forced to resign as the student protest movement sparks a nationwide revolt which culminates in thousands of people occupying the Indonesian parliament.
November — students begin a new wave of protests demanding the trial of Suharto, the withdrawal of the military from civilian life, and greater democracy in Indonesia. New president B.J. Habibie warns of a new crackdown.