Students' protests echo of the past
Are the students again the determining factor for an incumbent president to resign, in the case of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, the most democratically elected head of state, who championed democratic reforms, press freedom and human rights at the start of his ascension to power?
In spite of his defiant words that (quote) "I shall not resign" when speaking to reporters at the State Palace recently amid the peak of student demonstrations, it looks like Gus Dur's fate has been sealed; namely downwards.
In the eyes of the public, the President has been implicated in what the international media have already dubbed financial scandals and the students believe it as they have seen that all signs point in that direction. The court proceedings, involving some witnesses have left no doubt about the President's role in the affair. The House committee or rather fact finding commissions, admittedly are politically motivated but they serve as a means of people's control. Morally that should be enough for the public to determine that the President has breached his oath. His supporters, of course, want this to be established by a legal court.
As in the past, when huge numbers of students from all over the country took to the streets demanding the resignation of the president, this time, too, they appeared to represent the conscience of the people rather than the People's Consultative Assembly and the House of Representatives (MPR/DPR).
"I was elected by the MPR and I shall only resign if MPR so desires," said Gus Dur to justify his refusal to listen to the students' call for his resignation.
It will not be the end of the nation's problems if Gus Dur is replaced. But should he be allowed to lie so often to the people and trample on principles he himself has pledged to uphold? Many have accused him of the same practice of corruption, collusion and nepotism as his predecessor while failing to bring sympathizers of the New Order to justice.
A number of observers and political commentators have indeed expressed concern, that without Abdurrahman Wahid, the unitary state will fall into greater chaos in view of the support nation- wide still enjoyed by his loyal followers. As it is known, pro- Abdurrahman students demonstrations were also held in a number of towns.
If Gus Dur is found guilty by the state of involvement in the Buloggate and Bruneigate scandals, there is no better option for him than to resign from his post voluntarily rather than to be forced to do so through an impeachment process.
Anyhow, the students, being soldiers of conscience of the nation, have always proved themselves to be right in history.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta