John Aglionby, Jakarta – Demands for an end to President Suharto's 32 years of autocratic rule and outbreaks of social disorder are the signs of increasing political discontent in Indonesia. The government's inability to control the free-falling currency and economic crisis is fuelling opposition and media demands for what would be only the second change of leader in Indonesia's 52 years of independence.

Leading the way is Amien Rais, a staunch government critic and chairman of the 28 million-strong Muslim organisation Muhammadiyah. He believes the only way to rekindle domestic and international confidence is a change in the March 10 presidential election. "Look around us, no one is investing here," he said. "The only way to turn the situation around is to break the status quo. And the only way to do that is to replace Suharto."

Mr Rais points to rising prices, mounting bankruptcies and escalating unemployment which has risen by up to 4 million in the past few months. "If millions of people are hungry, unrest will surely follow. And people will no longer put up with another five years of Suharto repressing them."

Discontent is already apparent. On Monday hundreds of shops and cars were damaged by thousands of rioters in the West Java capital of Bandung after a seemingly innocuous altercation between street vendors and public order officials. Strikes are also becoming more frequent, particularly in the industrial heartland of Java, as workers protest against labour rights violations and job losses.

Other groups echo Mr Rais's sentiments. Yesterday the National Brotherhood Foundation, previously loyal to Mr Suharto, called for the former five-star general, aged 76, to step down. In very polite terms, it said Mr Suharto's age and health were against him. "He has dedicated his life to the country for 50 years as a soldier and a statesman. We do not expect him . . . to carry out more heavy tasks," the group's leader, retired general Bambang Triantoro, said.

At the end of last month, the country was rocked by rumours that Mr Suharto had suffered a stroke and died, or been ousted, when he was not seen in public after doctors told him to take a 10-day rest. If he stands again, Mr Suharto is likely to be re-elected for a seventh term. Indonesia's president is chosen by the 1,000 strong People's Consultative Assembly, which consists of the 500 members of the powerless House of Representatives and 500 people picked by Mr Suharto.

Students at several universities have held polls on whether Mr Suharto should serve another term. None of the surveys has backed him.

The heavily constrained Indonesian media have started giving free rein to government critics. "The media are almost running amok," one diplomat said. "Six months ago they would never have got away with what they are doing now. It shows what a mess the country is in."

One difference between Indonesia now and 33 years ago, when a political crisis brought down the first president, Sukarno, is that there is no Communist Party to blame. After it was accused of instigating an abortive coup, 500,000 of its members were massacred.