violence erupted on the streets of jakarta, in indonesian capital, between august 7-18, 2000. a car bomb explosion in downtown jakarta and mass demonstrations outside the indonesian parliament marred president abdurrahman wahid's first state of the union address to parliament.

he defended the prosecution of former president suharto on embezzlement charges and called for a gradual decrease in the influence of the indonesian military in parliament. wahid also said he would transfer administrative powers to his vice president, megawati sukarnoputri.

thousands of protestors rallied at the gates of parliament house. their causes were as varied as their banners, including muslim fundamentalists urging a return to a more authoritarian form of govenment and students demanding reform in parliament as well as the reshuffle of cabinet members. many protestors also came from outlying islands in the indonesian archipelago to appeal for independance from the national government in jakarta.

this photo story shows a variety of demonstrators, as wel as their solidarity and single-mindedness in confronting the wahid govenment.

to continue, click here