Analysis

Events and attention

For each event: messages per day from thirty days before to ninety days after (grey before, red after), the first captured message, and the volume in the following thirty days compared with the month before.

Matching uses a search query per event, shown under each chart; broad queries (elections, the riots) also catch unrelated messages, so their baseline is high. "Capture" gives all messages captured in the thirty days after the event, to tell a quiet list from a missing capture.

12 November 1991

Santa Cruz massacre, Dili

Troops fire on mourners at the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili.

First message: the same day — Dili Massacre/TAPOL
68 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 293 messages of all kinds · 102.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: "santa cruz"

20 November 1992

Xanana Gusmão captured

The Fretilin leader is arrested in Dili.

First message: the next day — Xanana: Arrest Reportage
209 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 445 messages of all kinds · 33.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: xanana

8 May 1993

Marsinah found murdered

The body of the labour activist from Sidoarjo is found.

First message: 21 days later — Who Killed Marsinah?
1 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 32 messages of all kinds
Query: marsinah

14 April 1994

Medan labour protests

Mass worker protests in Medan; SBSI leaders arrested.

First message: 6 days later — Medan's Striking Workers
29 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 225 messages of all kinds · 17.4× the earlier daily rate
Query: medan AND (buruh OR workers OR sbsi)

21 June 1994

Tempo, Editor and DeTIK banned

The Information Ministry revokes the licences of three weeklies.

First message: the same day — Tempo, Editor, DeTIK Banned
103 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 324 messages of all kinds · 6.3× the earlier daily rate
Query: bredel OR pembredelan OR dibredel OR (ban* AND (tempo OR editor OR detik))

7 August 1994

AJI founded

Journalists sign the Sirnagalih Declaration founding the Alliance of Independent Journalists.

First message: the next day — Journalists' Declaration
3 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 240 messages of all kinds
Query: "aliansi jurnalis" OR "alliance of independent journalists"

20 June 1996

PDI congress in Medan ousts Megawati

A government-backed congress installs Soerjadi as PDI chair.

First message: the same day — PDI Rally: 1 Dead, Many Injured
184 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 886 messages of all kinds · 19.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: megawati AND (kongres OR congress OR soerjadi)

27 July 1996

Attack on the PDI headquarters

Megawati's office in Jakarta is stormed; riots follow and the PRD is blamed.

First message: the same day — Troops Attack PDI HQ (Eng
716 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,879 messages of all kinds · 32.5× the earlier daily rate
Query: "27 juli" OR "27 july" OR (pdi AND (diponegoro OR serbu* OR attack*))

11 October 1996

Nobel Peace Prize to Belo and Ramos-Horta

The Nobel committee honours the East Timorese bishop and the diplomat.

First message: the same day — Nobel Peace Prize Anouncements
273 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,337 messages of all kinds · 63.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: nobel

10 October 1996

Situbondo riots

Churches are burned in Situbondo, East Java.

First message: 2 days later — Kronologi Kerusuhan Situbondo
243 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,255 messages of all kinds · 60.8× the earlier daily rate
Query: situbondo

26 December 1996

Tasikmalaya riots

Riots target Chinese-owned shops and churches in Tasikmalaya.

First message: the same day — Kerusuhan Tasikmalaya (1)
298 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,949 messages of all kinds · 27.1× the earlier daily rate
Query: tasikmalaya

29 May 1997

1997 general election

The last New Order election, marked by violence and a Mega-Bintang movement.

First message: the same day — Huge Golkar Lead in Election 'Surprising
347 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 746 messages of all kinds · 0.5× the earlier daily rate
Query: pemilu OR election*

14 August 1997

Rupiah floated

Bank Indonesia abandons the rupiah's trading band.

First message: the same day — Rupiah Anjlok Lagi: Rp 2800/ Dolar US
149 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,085 messages of all kinds · 3.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: rupiah

31 October 1997

First IMF agreement

Indonesia signs its first letter of intent with the IMF.

First message: the next day — Soeharto Gets IMF Backing -- At a Price
207 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,382 messages of all kinds · 31.1× the earlier daily rate
Query: imf

10 March 1998

Soeharto elected to a seventh term

The MPR re-elects Soeharto with Habibie as vice-president.

First message: 2 days later — Overkill MPR Buktikan Suharto Sudah Gentar
253 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,093 messages of all kinds · 1.8× the earlier daily rate
Query: (soeharto OR suharto) AND (mpr OR sidang)

12 May 1998

Trisakti shootings

Four students are shot dead at Trisakti University.

First message: the next day — Kunjungi homepage tragedi trisakti
121 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 654 messages of all kinds · 15.8× the earlier daily rate
Query: trisakti

13 May 1998

May riots (13-15 May)

Riots, looting, arson and sexual violence against Chinese Indonesians in Jakarta and other cities.

First message: 11 days later — Dalang Kerusuhan Mei
219 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 637 messages of all kinds · 0.6× the earlier daily rate
Query: kerusuhan OR penjarahan OR riot* OR looting OR perkosa*

21 May 1998

Soeharto resigns

Habibie becomes president.

First message: the next day — INFID statement on Soeharto Resignation
187 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 709 messages of all kinds · 1.6× the earlier daily rate
Query: (soeharto OR suharto) AND (mundur OR resign* OR lengser OR berhenti)

6 July 1998

Biak massacre

Security forces fire on a Morning Star flag-raising in Biak.

First message: 4 days later — MamberaMO> DI BIAK TUJUH DEMONSTRAN DILAPORKAN TEWAS
18 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 492 messages of all kinds · 3.6× the earlier daily rate
Query: biak

9 October 1998

Ita Martadinata murdered

The young volunteer, due to testify about the May rapes, is killed.

First message: the next day — Title withheld until an editor has reviewed the message
2 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 294 messages of all kinds · 6.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: martadinata

23 October 1998

TGPF report on the May riots

The joint fact-finding team's report (dated 23 October, made public early November).

First message: 11 days later — Title withheld until an editor has reviewed the message
54 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 807 messages of all kinds · 9.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: tgpf OR "tim gabungan pencari fakta"

13 November 1998

Semanggi I

Troops fire on students protesting the MPR special session.

First message: 2 days later — Pangab Perintahkan Usut Tragedi Semanggi
183 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 879 messages of all kinds
Query: semanggi

19 January 1999

Ambon conflict begins

Violence between Christians and Muslims breaks out in Ambon.

First message: the next day — Riot Hits Ambon, 4 Killed, 23 Injured
246 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,491 messages of all kinds · 21.1× the earlier daily rate
Query: ambon OR maluku

27 January 1999

Habibie offers East Timor a choice

Jakarta announces that East Timor may reject autonomy.

First message: the next day — Indonesians to Seek More Autonomy If Timor Goes
316 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,002 messages of all kinds · 22.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: timor AND (opsi OR option OR otonomi OR autonomy)

6 April 1999

Liquiçá church massacre

Militias attack refugees sheltering in the Liquiçá church.

First message: the same day — Liquica in Turmoil
287 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,326 messages of all kinds · 28.7× the earlier daily rate
Query: liquica OR liquisa

7 June 1999

1999 general election

The first free election since 1955.

First message: the same day — Pemilu Ilusi (fwd)
626 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,809 messages of all kinds · 1.1× the earlier daily rate
Query: pemilu OR election*

30 August 1999

East Timor referendum

78.5% vote against autonomy; militia violence follows the result.

First message: the same day — Violence Rises as Referendum Nears
994 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,984 messages of all kinds · 9.8× the earlier daily rate
Query: referendum OR jajak OR ballot

20 September 1999

INTERFET lands in Dili

The Australian-led force arrives in East Timor.

First message: the next day — INTERFET Amankan Jalur Bantuan Kemanusiaan
353 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,985 messages of all kinds
Query: interfet

20 October 1999

Abdurrahman Wahid elected president

The MPR elects Gus Dur; Megawati becomes vice-president.

First message: the same day — US to Assess President Wahid after His V-P Is Named
1,652 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 3,228 messages of all kinds · 9.4× the earlier daily rate
Query: "gus dur" OR wahid

8 November 1999

Aceh referendum rally

Hundreds of thousands rally in Banda Aceh for a referendum.

First message: the same day — Aceh Referendum
429 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,049 messages of all kinds · 6.9× the earlier daily rate
Query: aceh AND referendum

24 December 2000

Christmas Eve church bombings

Coordinated bombs explode at churches in several cities.

First message: the same day — Dua Tewas Dalam Ledakan Bom di Gereja HKBP Sukabumi
175 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,189 messages of all kinds · 5.7× the earlier daily rate
Query: (bom OR bomb*) AND (gereja OR church*)

18 February 2001

Sampit violence

Killings of Madurese settlers in Central Kalimantan.

First message: the same day — Sampit Rusuh, Enam Orang Tewas
338 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,609 messages of all kinds · 112.7× the earlier daily rate
Query: sampit

23 July 2001

Wahid removed; Megawati president

The MPR impeaches Wahid and installs Megawati.

First message: 2 days later — Deal Behind Megawati's Appointment as President
733 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 2,557 messages of all kinds · 2.7× the earlier daily rate
Query: megawati AND (presiden OR president)

11 September 2001

11 September attacks

The attacks in the United States and their echo in Indonesia.

First message: the same day — Via USMAN - UMO President's Statement on WTC
628 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,662 messages of all kinds · 628.0× the earlier daily rate
Query: "world trade center" OR wtc OR "osama"

10 November 2001

Theys Eluay killed

The Papuan leader is murdered after a Kopassus dinner.

First message: the next day — Ketua Presidium Dewan Papua, Theys H. Eluay Dibunuh
64 matching messages in 30 days · capture: 1,049 messages of all kinds · 19.2× the earlier daily rate
Query: theys

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