Timeline of Indonesian Events since 1945

Aug. 17, 1945:	Soekarno and Hatta proclaim Indonesia's independence; independence war against Japan, followed Britain and Holland begins. Soekarno declared President and Hatta declared Vice President.
1949:	Dutch accept Indonesia's independence.
1950's:	The Islamic State of Indonesia proclaimed, and then crushed by the Republic of Indonesia. The Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (supported by the CIA) proclaimed, and then crushed by the Republic of Indonesia.
1955:	First free general elections. Indonesians elect Members of Parliament who then elect the President and Vice President; Soekarno and Hatta elected President and Vice President.
1963:	War with Dutch over West Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia wins.
1965:	On September 30, 1965, a failed coup d'etat results in a decentralized eradication of the world's largest communist party outside of China. Between 1 - 2 million people slaughtered by the Army and Muslim Youth Groups and the Nationalists over the following few years.
1966:	Soekarno put under house arrest, Suharto steps in as leader.
1967:	Parliament makes General Suharto President, forms New Order Government.
1971:	First rigged elections in which GOLKAR wins a majority. The start of the "floating mass" political concept, meaning that "the people" are alienated from politics. Similarly rigged elections will happen every 5 years.
1974:	Riots in Jakarta started by undercover intelligence agents at student demonstrations lead to media bans and prison for activists.
1975:	Indonesia invades and brutally occupies East Timor with President Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger's blessing.
1978:	Law passed outlawing political activity on university campuses.
1981:	Anti Chinese riots in Solo, Central Java. Solo badly burned.
1984:	Massacre of 100 - 400 Muslim demonstrators in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta.
1983 - 86:	Mysterious killings of petty criminals. Corpses dumped in public places. General Suharto takes responsibility and explains it as "shock therapy" to cut crime.
1989:	A dam dispossesses farmers in Central Java sparking protests.
1994:	Crack down on the media: TEMPO, EDITOR, & DETIK magazines banned.
1996 - 98:	Ethnic tension in Sambas, West Kalimantan. War between Dayak and Malay versus Madurese.
1997:	Currency crisis leads to political unrest and demonstrations across the country.
May 20, 1998:	Riots force President Suharto to resign and Habibie becomes President.
Nov. 1998:	Students shot dead in demonstrations against Habibie at Semanggi (the clover road along Jalan Sudirman), Jakarta.
1998 - 1999:	The Aceh Freedom Fighters step up activity. Indonesian army massacres villagers in Aceh every now and then. Continued unrest in East Timor, Irian Jaya, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Riau.
1999:	Tensions between Muslims and Christians escalate into episodic riots in Ambon.
June 7, 1999:	First free elections since 1955, Megawati Soekarnoputri's party (PDIP) wins, but she might not become President... possible national disintegration or civil war loom ahead.
Aug. 30, 1999	Voters of East Timor cast ballots in a U.N. organized referendum expected to set the territory on a path to independence from Indonesia.
Sept. 4, 1999	East Timorese voters overwhelmingly chose independence.
Sept. 6, 1999	Pro-Indonesian militias stepped up their terror campaign against supporters of independence.