In 1965, Sukarno's demise was accelerated by the still not completely explained events of September 30, 1965, when a number of leading generals were taken from their homes at gunpoint to Halim airport; their bodies were later discovered down a nearby well. Their abductors were a group of communist and other leftist sympathizers, who later claimed that they were only preventing an army-led coup. Of more significance, however, was the presence of president Sukarno at Halim. Although the rebels claimed he was only taken there for his own safety, it was hard not to see Sukarno as being in cahoots with them, fabricating the idea of an army coup as an excuse for getting rid of senior army personnel.

The communist rebels managed to occupy Medan Merdeka in the middle of Jakarta, and thus controlled the telecommunications centre and the presidential palace situated nearby. Their success was shortlived, however. General Suharto, a senior member of the Indonesian army, rounded up those generals who weren't kidnapped and eventually took control of Medan Merdeka.