Whose year was it?<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post has never named its man or woman of the year,
\nthe custom of several media institutions in distinguishing
\nindividuals or groups for their prominence, good or otherwise,
\nduring the preceding 12 months. But given the huge changes this
\ncountry witnessed in 1998 -- momentous events that significantly
\naltered Indonesia's history -- we have decided to make an
\nexception this year, and determine who ranks as the biggest
\nnewsmakers of them all in the outgoing 1998.<\/p>\n
The main criteria in drawing up the candidates' shortlist
\ncentered not so much on deeds as their continued appearance in
\nthe news throughout the year. Each must have accomplished
\nsomething outstanding in the first place to be featured
\nprominently and almost continually in the news for 12 months. Not
\nmere newsmakers, but headline makers.<\/p>\n
Random unfolding of circumstances, rather than conscious acts
\nof individuals, may have dictated the massive and unprecedented
\nchanges which occurred in this country. The economic crisis, and
\nthe political upheavals which followed, cannot be tagged to a
\nparticular individual. This is not to say that people had no role
\nin how they played out. They did and, in the process, also
\ninfluenced the course of the changes. These are the people who
\nmake the front-page headlines and whose faces decorated the
\ncovers of news magazines.<\/p>\n
Poring through the front pages of The Jakarta Post over the
\nlast 12 months, there seems to be no shortage of candidates for
\nour nomination of the man or woman of the year.<\/p>\n
Former president Soeharto inevitably ranks high on the list,
\nmore for his sudden departure in May than his reelection in
\nMarch. His resignation, many agree in retrospect, spared the
\nnation an ugly confrontation with his growing ranks of
\nadversaries. Yet, even in retirement, Soeharto has remained a
\ncontroversial figure.<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie is also a strong candidate, from his
\ncontroversial appointment as vice president and his accidental
\nascent to the presidency, to his shaky leadership as the nation
\nconfronted one tumultuous event after another. Amien Rais could
\nbe our man for the way he publicly challenged Soeharto in the
\nrun-up to the presidential election in March. And Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri could qualify as our woman for the way she endured
\nthe assault of persecution from powerful forces, including the
\ngovernment and the military, only to emerge stronger and more
\npopular each time.<\/p>\n
Gen. Wiranto has also made news as the Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nfound itself on various battlefronts, from maintaining the
\nprecarious state of security and order, defending ABRI's
\nsociopolitical role, coming to terms with mistakes of the past
\nand, most of all, facing an increasingly critical public. We
\ncould also add Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib to the list as he
\nis heading the politically onerous task of lifting the lid on the
\nalleged excesses of Soeharto, his relatives and web of business
\ncronies.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, none of the candidates, no matter how significant
\ntheir acknowledged contributions, measure up to The Jakarta
\nPost's choice for men and women of the year: university students.<\/p>\n
These young men and women, almost anonymous to the public at
\nlarge, gave their blood, sweat and tears, and some their lives,
\nin the name of reform. The student-led reform movement began
\nearly in the year in the countdown to the General Session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly in March, and escalated
\nthereafter. It reached its crescendo in May, a force so strong
\nthat even strongman Soeharto buckled. After a brief lull, the
\nstudents returned to the streets in October amid growing signals
\nthe government was stalling on reforms.<\/p>\n
Students brought about these massive changes in defiance of
\nthe strongest authorities running the country. They braved
\nbullets and tanks deployed by the military, endless intimidation
\nfrom those in power, even a massive disinformation campaign
\ndesigned to discredit their movement. At times, they went against
\npublic opinion, especially when the latter was shrewdly
\nmanipulated. In short, they courageously ushered in the long
\noverdue changes even when the odds were heavily stacked against
\nthem.<\/p>\n
The students' actions in shaping the past year made it their
\nown. Without doubt, they live up to the title of The Jakarta
\nPost's men and women of 1998.<\/p>",
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