Malari incident | |||
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Date | 15–16 January 1974 | ||
Location | Jakarta, Indonesia | ||
Caused by | Corruption Competition from foreign investments Military power struggle | ||
Methods | Student demonstrations, riots, pogroms | ||
Resulted in | See Aftermath | ||
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Casualties and losses | |||
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The Malari incident ([maˈlari]; Indonesian: Peristiwa Malari, short for Malapetaka Lima Belas Januari, "Fifteenth of January Disaster") was a student demonstration and riot that happened on 15 and 16 January 1974 in Jakarta.[1] In reaction to a state visit by the Japanese Prime Minister, Kakuei Tanaka, students held a demonstration protesting corruption, high prices, and inequality in foreign investments. After provocation by suspected agent provocateurs, the demonstrations became riots, which eventually turned into a pogrom. By the end of the incident, eleven protesters had been killed and hundreds of cars and buildings destroyed.
The riots caused numerous changes. Suharto's New Order government enacted a series of economic reforms meant to improve Native Indonesian representation in partnerships with foreign investors, General Sumitro (then Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces), was forced to retire, and numerous repressive measures were enforced by the government.