in 1997 and 1998, indonesia was the country hardest hit by the . this increased popular discontent with the new order and led to popular protests. suharto resigned on 21 may 1998. in 1999, east timor voted to leave the state of indonesia, after a twenty-five-year military occupation. after suharto's resignation democracy improved. a regional autonomy program was introduced, and the first direct presidential election took place in 2004. but some political and economic instability has remained. a political settlement to an armed separatist conflict in aceh was achieved in 2005.