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.