Gaspol Today: The Final Days of Suharto's Rule, Were the Ministers Guerrilla Fighting?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance, and Industry (Menko Ekuin) and Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) in the Seventh Development Cabinet, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, recounts the moments leading to Suharto’s downfall after 32 years in power as president.

One day before Suharto announced his resignation from office, Ginandjar and 13 other ministers gathered at the Bappenas office.

The 14 ministers discussed the chaotic situation in Jakarta at the time, caused by riots and waves of demonstrations.

“We did not say (ask) him to resign. There was absolutely none and it was not in our thoughts (to ask Suharto to resign),” said Ginandjar in the Gaspol! podcast aired on Kompas.com’s YouTube channel on Wednesday (14/5/2026).

Ginandjar said that in the letter, the ministers asked Suharto to take strategic steps to prevent the country from collapsing.

He stated that the letter from the 14 ministers did not express their unwillingness to join the Reform Cabinet.

“We had to report that the economy could collapse within a week,” said Ginandjar.

That night after the ministers’ meeting, Ginandjar, along with the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare (Menko Kesra) and the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) at the time, paid a visit to Suharto’s house on Jalan Cendana, Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Instead of conveying the ministers’ stance, Ginandjar and the two other coordinating ministers could only remain silent in front of Suharto.

“And we couldn’t speak anymore, to be honest,” he continued.

Watch the full conversation in the Gaspol! podcast, which premieres today at 20.00 WIB.