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