Students' protests echo of the past
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