GIVING GROUND

	May 19, 1998
	President Suharto announced plans to step down. Ian Williams of Independent Television News gives an update from Indonesia.

IAN WILLIAMS, ITN: Again, their target was parliament, a jubilant convoy of protests. Yesterday they'd come in their hundreds. This morning, there were thousands of students from across Jakarta. They spilled onto the grounds of parliament. In a marked contrast to yesterday those few soldiers present carried no guns. So the students armed them with flowers, a gesture that received a warm response. By mid morning, the grounds and rooftops of parliament, even its cavernous halls, they all resounded to demands for Suharto to go. And the president appeared to be contemplating just that. On national television he looked dejected as he prepared to address the nation. But in a confident statement he said he would begin reforms and hold fresh elections in which he would not be a candidate. He appeared to be ready to stand down. Among the students at parliament the initial reaction was one of euphoria. There is tremendous jubilation here but also suspicion. They know President Suharto is a masterful tactician, and many will only believe he's really going when they see it for themselves. And euphoria quickly turned to anger. Word spread that Suharto's statement lacked detail. There was no timetable for elections, and for the time being he was clinging to power. STUDENT: Suharto must die! Bow to your country! Suharto must die! STUDENT: We want Suharto, his family, his cronies to be put on trial right now! And we want-we want a stop to all forms of state violence. IAN WILLIAMS: Student leaders met and called for Suharto's immediate resignation. The protests and occupation of parliament will continue. IAN WILLIAMS: How long will you stay here for? HERU COKRO, Student Leader: Until house of representatives tell us when they're going to ask Suharto to step down. IAN WILLIAMS: While the man who's emerged as Indonesia's most effective opposition leader accused Suharto of buying time and said massive demonstrations planned for tomorrow will go ahead. AMIEN REIS, Muslim Opposition Leader: (speaking through interpreter) It has come to a point of no return, and they will again and again and again stretch the demonstrations clearly, if necessary, until finally the old man goes forever. IAN WILLIAMS: The army, whose loyalty to that old man is crucial to his survival, was patrolling the streets again today. They warned ominously of possible unrest and bloodshed tomorrow. This evening the students remain in control of parliament, unimpressed by new government assurances that Suharto will be gone by the end of the year. The protests have a momentum of their own and in an atmosphere of suspicion and fear, the crisis looks more dangerous than ever.

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