Michael Casey – Thousands of protesters across Indonesia marked the seventh anniversary of the fall of former dictator Suharto on Saturday by burning his portrait and demanding his prosecution on corruption charges.

During his 32 years in power, Suharto muzzled the media, rigged elections and reportedly stole $600 million from state coffers. He was forced to step down after months of student protests on May 21, 1998.

The largest protest Saturday took place in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, where hundreds of students chanting "Put Suharto On Trial" marched to the local parliament.

"It has been seven years since the reform movement started but there has been no legal action against Suharto," said student leader Jaffar Mahmud. "He must be put on trial because his years of corrupt practices have caused great suffering among the people."

Indonesian media reported that thousands took to the streets in at least seven other cities including in the capital Jakarta. Dozens of students protested in front of the state palace while others gathered near Suharto's home in central Jakarta and burned portraits of the ex-dictator.

But unlike past years when protesters tossed Molotov cocktails and clashed with police, Saturday's demonstrations were largely peaceful and there were no reports of arrests.

The government has repeatedly tried to force the 83-year-old Suharto to face corruption charges, but his lawyers argue that he is too sick to stand trial. A weeklong hospital stay earlier this month for a blood disorder raise concerns that he might be about to die.

But his illness also set off a wave of nostalgia among the country's political elite; President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited him and Vice President Jusuf Kalla suggested the former dictator would never face corruption charges.