12.30 - Rain poured on the Cawang area and its surrounds. At this time, PPP masses were not yet visible in the areas of Otista, Dewi Sartika or Kalibata. The armed forces [ABRI] themselves had prepared three anti-personnel vehicles and wore stripped clothing and were fully armed, dispersed around the area of the Cawang toll road.
12.36 - The rain continued to poor and the PPP masses in Kalibata, Dewi Sartika, Cawang and Otista were still not seen. There were no formations in the street.
13.00 – The PPP masses were still not to be seen. The number of security personnel continued to increase and deployed on Jalan Otista and Dewi sartika.
13.24 - The PPP masses began gathering in the lanes (gang) along Kalibata and the Kampung Melayu bus terminal and in each lane there were around 10-30 people totaling around 600 people. Most of them wore clothing with PPP symbols such as T-shirts, hats and head bands. They also carried PPP flags.
The number of ABRI personnel trying to guard the lanes continued to increase. A striped truck with an orange roof at the Kalibata intersection, a black truck with an orange roof in front of the Suara Pembaruan office and in Cawang one more striped truck, military police and an anti-riot (Brimob) unit totaling 10. In Tebet [South Jakarta] in front of the Bank Republik Indonesia (BRI), there were already scores of Brimob on guard. In Gelanggang Remaja were two crowd control trucks. So far, no street mobilisations to be seen.
13.33 - At this time, the gathering of the masses was becoming obvious. In each lane and for the length of Jl Otista thousands of PPP members gathered similar to Jl Ambon (near to the Kampung Melayu bus terminal).
Every 15 meters along the length of Jl Otista and Dewi Sartika was guarded by around 4-7 anti-riot soldiers. The tight security could also be found at the mouth of the lanes, banks and petrol stations. The masses became more enthusiastic especially when ranks of soldiers went past. They shouted at them and abused them. So far, the mass ranks were still unable to be seen.
13.46 - The masses at Jl Dewi Sartika gathering in the lanes began to come together. As those in the different lanes each began to meat they discussed among themselves what might occur. What was most obvious, the gathering occurred 150 metres from the Cawang bridge.
Meanwhile, around 300 meters before the Kampung Melayu bus terminal, a very large mass gathering reaching 2,000 people started. They unfurled PPP flags, added to by banging on empty pans and chants of "One Star Two Stars".
The procession was still not visible, but all along Jl Otista flags and symbols were displayed by the masses in each lane. In a vehicle with a loud speaker, the police announced to the masses that this was not a campaign and parade day and because of this the masses were asked to return to their homes.
A gathering of masses which reached hundreds in front of the BRI. They also wore campaign clothing but did not shout or yell. A leaflet containing a photocopy from a report from the newspaper Harian Terbit was distributed from hand to hand. At that moment, a number of soldiers approached the PPP masses and asked them to remove their T-shirts. But the masses distanced themselves from them and went into the grounds of a cinema.
At Kalibata a similar incident occurred with PPP masses being asked to remove their T-shirts by ABRI soldiers. This incident occurred right at the Kalibata traffic lights. Because there were not many of them [PPP], they succeeded in stripping them. By this time around 1000 personnel from Brimob, military and military police had been deployed.
13.52 - The masses in Cawang grew larger. They stood in lines for the length of the street. The masses which had earlier gathered in the entrances to the lanes joined the rows of people in each of the streets.
The total number of soldiers in the Cawang area reached 200 personnel surrounding Cawang and blocking traffic going towards Otista or from Otista via Dewi Sartika. At Jl Otista, the largest gathering of masses was at Jl Mesjid Bendungan and reach 1,500 people.
14.07 - Three cars with PPP flags moved of to hold a parade. The Masses greeted them with shouts of "Viva Bintang". However they did not join in the parade because the soldier's security was extremely tight.
14.44 - A section of the masses with the courage to join the parade were intercepted by soldiers in the Cawang area and blockaded towards the direction of the toll road and a section was escorted. Thousands of the masses were in ranks along the side of the road near the Cawang pedestrian overpass. Police and soldiers continued to surround them and the number of personnel continued to increase reaching a total of 300.
14.53 - The masses gathered along the edge of Jl Dewi Sartika were forced back into the lanes and at the entrance to the lanes with scores of soldiers guarded them. Many of the lanes were baracaided with iron.
Lined up between Cawang and Tebet there were seven trucks full of soldiers and scores of military jeeps – some stripped others black – and fully armed.
Despite this, a section off the masses continued to gather on the edge of the streets while calling on their comrades by waving their hands to continue forward.
15.04 - At Jalan H. Yahya and Jalan Otista (300 meters before the Kampung Malayu bus terminal) the masses totaling hundreds of people began shouting and yelling abusing at each group of soldiers which passed. Security was extremely tight up to the Kampung Melayu bus terminal.
15.12 - A pickup full of PPP members with PPP campaign symbols began a parade. They shouted "One Star Two Star". They moved off in the direction of Cawang.
This parade got an extraordinary reception from the masses, who since earlier in the afternoon hand been standing and waiting. "Viva Bintang" reverberated again. Not caring about the soldiers gathered near them. The parade was not blocked by security personnel.
15.31 - A stone fight occurred in the area of Jl Ambon. The masses totaling tens of thousands loved of by foot on the East side of Jl Otista. They pushed and surrounded the troops back who in tern pushed and surrounded them. A marine truck full of was trapped in the midst of the masses. The masses asked the troops in the truck to get down. Shouts of "Viva Bintang" and "One Star Two Star" reverberated everywhere. The ranks were actually only spearheaded by around 15 people. But because of their courage in front of the masses they followed. Unfortunately the masses had no leadership. The brutally attacked the troops with stones.
15.43 - The troops began to loose patience. Viciously they attacked and beat those who were moving forward. They also fired tear gas twice. The masses appeared confused and ran into the lanes. According to an eye-witness around ten people were arrested and five PPP members wounded. At this time it is not known how many soldiers were victims of the masses' attack.
15.52 - The masses were seen moving off toward th Kampung Melayu bus terminal. Indian file they walked on the edge of the road and a group went through the small lanes (behind the roads) and began to gather again.
The PPP masses on the move got an extraordinary reception from the people at the Kampung Melayu bus terminal. From the pedestrian overpass the people continued to cheer for the victory of PPP. "Viva PPP" reverberated and they got the "thumbs up" from the thousands of people who had witnessed the riot.
16.01 - As time went by the gathering became larger and larger and began to wave flags and unfurl banners. Dan "Viva Bintang" continued to reverberated. At that time the masses in the area had already reached around 5,000.
16.05 - Another stone battle occurred with the military. Facing this, troops from a number of units (the largest were the marines and the army) fired their weapons. The masses were scattered again after hearing the gun shots as many as five times. Many of them immediately lay face down in the street.
16.30 - Thousands again gathered on the West side of the Kampung Melayu bus terminal waving PPP flags, after being called by a number of their comrades they maintained themselves in front of the troops. In front of the troops they waved flags and shouted anti-Golkar slogans.
16.43 - The stone war occurred again and a number of the soldiers were wounded. The soldiers with blooded faces were taunted and laughed at by the masses, most of all by those on the pedestrian overpass, who witnessed it clearly. Seeing this, the masses became even braver in confronting the soldiers and it became brutal as a number of soldiers at the front were punched.
The thousands of troops were in the area again dispersed the ranks of the masses by firing tear gas twice and ten times fired their weapons. The masses became disorientated and tried to save themselves. 16.48 - By their comrades who were still maintaining themselves in front, the PPP masses and their sympathizers were asked not to be afraid and hold their ground – don't be frighted – to confront the security forces. "Don't be afraid" and "Come on, keep going forward" was shouted in the mist of the battle with the soldiers who were trying to quieten the masses. In the end, thousands of the masses returned to the streets and immediately confronted the security forces. Flags continued to be waved, banners were unfurled and head bands continued to be warn.
At that time, eight marine trucks entered the area of the Kampung Melayu bus terminal and a army helicopter sounded a siren from the air.
16.50 - The fight started again and gun shots were heard seven times. This time the masses were not scattered but again reentered the lanes. In the streets were scattered left behind sandles and shoes, and stones which had been thrown at troops by the masses.
From the helicopter the soldiers warned the people of Jakarta to return to their homes and not disturb the flow of traffic.
17.04 - The masses who had entered the lanes again emerged from the lane openings and continued to try and throw stones at the troops. They also set fire to Golkar flags and vehicles.
After that, the troops renewed their attack and ran over those people who did not want to step aside to the side of the road.
17.15 - The masses continued to resist in the streets. Jalan Otista which had been closed a number of times was reopened by the soldiers and cars were allowed to pass. The intention of opening the road was to destroy the gathered masses who were still on the edge of the street.
(At the time of writing this chronology the masses where still gathered at the edges of the roads not wanting to go, as a result the troops continued to guard the area.)
[Translators note: "lanes" (gangs) refers to the narrow lanes which intersect city kampungs in Jakarta. "Bintang" refers to the symbol of the PPP, a star - James Balowski]