Student power, revisited

Student power, revisited

As everybody vividly remembers, it was about seven years ago
when student power toppled the authoritarian regime of Soeharto,
making way for Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, followed by Megawati
Soekarnoputri, to head the government and the beginning of
the reform era. It was a transition marked by bloodshed and the
deaths of a number of students.

The hero of the reform movement was People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, who is now running in the
presidential race along with four other hopefuls.

The students are on the move again in many areas of the
country. This time, their opposition is directed toward three
former military generals in the lineup to the presidency. The
students have made a strong appeal to the public to not vote for
the ex-generals, arguing that they might bring back a military
administration.

The students' warning is loud and clear, but it has lost its
former ferocity and urgency. Perhaps it also lacks the fanaticism
of the old days. Still, they are pressing hard for the candidates
to sign a social contract to prove their commitments -- this
should be seen as the writing on the wall.

Storm clouds may suddenly appear in the political sky and
unleash a social backlash because promises made during the
campaign period were not delivered.

The students realize they can play a useful and decisive role
in keeping watch over the destiny of the nation in a time of
crisis. If social welfare -- including employment, education and
health -- are not satisfactorily addressed and implemented
timely, the students may demand that the president- or vice
president-elect to resign.

Similar sentiments are heard from among the independent
public, and the students are only eager to gather these voices
into a single chorus.

GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta