Whose year was it?

Whose year was it?

The Jakarta Post has never named its man or woman of the year,
the custom of several media institutions in distinguishing
individuals or groups for their prominence, good or otherwise,
during the preceding 12 months. But given the huge changes this
country witnessed in 1998 -- momentous events that significantly
altered Indonesia's history -- we have decided to make an
exception this year, and determine who ranks as the biggest
newsmakers of them all in the outgoing 1998.

The main criteria in drawing up the candidates' shortlist
centered not so much on deeds as their continued appearance in
the news throughout the year. Each must have accomplished
something outstanding in the first place to be featured
prominently and almost continually in the news for 12 months. Not
mere newsmakers, but headline makers.

Random unfolding of circumstances, rather than conscious acts
of individuals, may have dictated the massive and unprecedented
changes which occurred in this country. The economic crisis, and
the political upheavals which followed, cannot be tagged to a
particular individual. This is not to say that people had no role
in how they played out. They did and, in the process, also
influenced the course of the changes. These are the people who
make the front-page headlines and whose faces decorated the
covers of news magazines.

Poring through the front pages of The Jakarta Post over the
last 12 months, there seems to be no shortage of candidates for
our nomination of the man or woman of the year.

Former president Soeharto inevitably ranks high on the list,
more for his sudden departure in May than his reelection in
March. His resignation, many agree in retrospect, spared the
nation an ugly confrontation with his growing ranks of
adversaries. Yet, even in retirement, Soeharto has remained a
controversial figure.

President B.J. Habibie is also a strong candidate, from his
controversial appointment as vice president and his accidental
ascent to the presidency, to his shaky leadership as the nation
confronted one tumultuous event after another. Amien Rais could
be our man for the way he publicly challenged Soeharto in the
run-up to the presidential election in March. And Megawati
Soekarnoputri could qualify as our woman for the way she endured
the assault of persecution from powerful forces, including the
government and the military, only to emerge stronger and more
popular each time.

Gen. Wiranto has also made news as the Armed Forces (ABRI)
found itself on various battlefronts, from maintaining the
precarious state of security and order, defending ABRI's
sociopolitical role, coming to terms with mistakes of the past
and, most of all, facing an increasingly critical public. We
could also add Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib to the list as he
is heading the politically onerous task of lifting the lid on the
alleged excesses of Soeharto, his relatives and web of business
cronies.

Ultimately, none of the candidates, no matter how significant
their acknowledged contributions, measure up to The Jakarta
Post's choice for men and women of the year: university students.

These young men and women, almost anonymous to the public at
large, gave their blood, sweat and tears, and some their lives,
in the name of reform. The student-led reform movement began
early in the year in the countdown to the General Session of the
People's Consultative Assembly in March, and escalated
thereafter. It reached its crescendo in May, a force so strong
that even strongman Soeharto buckled. After a brief lull, the
students returned to the streets in October amid growing signals
the government was stalling on reforms.

Students brought about these massive changes in defiance of
the strongest authorities running the country. They braved
bullets and tanks deployed by the military, endless intimidation
from those in power, even a massive disinformation campaign
designed to discredit their movement. At times, they went against
public opinion, especially when the latter was shrewdly
manipulated. In short, they courageously ushered in the long
overdue changes even when the odds were heavily stacked against
them.

The students' actions in shaping the past year made it their
own. Without doubt, they live up to the title of The Jakarta
Post's men and women of 1998.