Our nation prides itself on being the world’s third-largest democracy, after India and the United States. But now we should be ready to fight the possible emergence of another Soeharto or Sukarno. Some of those in power are playing with fire by advocating for a third term for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who is constitutionally obligated to leave office on Oct. 21, 2024.

Twenty-four years ago on this day, Soeharto stepped down following nationwide demonstrations demanding his resignation.

A few months earlier, on March 10, 1998, Soeharto, the “father of development”, had been sworn in as president for his seventh term. But in a quick and telling reversal, the same people who unanimously reelected him joined the “people power” student demonstrations to oust him.

“It is lonely at the top,” Soeharto told his “golden boy” BJ Habibie when he appointed the technology czar as his vice president in March 1998.

Later, however, Soeharto qualified his comment to Habibie: “but it is even more lonely at the bottom”. The fall of the “father of development” occurred as the country was feeling the pinch of Asian financial crisis.

I was among the eyewitnesses when Soeharto announced his decision to “quit” at Merdeka Palace. Then-vice president Habibie was sworn in as Indonesia’s third president. He had turned down Soeharto’s request to “quit” together.