The term “more perspiration that inspiration” was popularly introduced by MIT economist Paul Krugman when he was explaining the phenomenon of the Asian economic miracle series in the 1990’s which was based on more and more labor work with less and less wage, resulting in the boom economic that was ironically ended in the East Asian Financial Crisis 1997-1998. In this writing, however, let me borrow the term as I would like to tell readers about one particular element within our new-vibrant democracy, the student movement, which has always been one key element of our country’s long journey even before our independence. My main argument is that the current movement practiced by our students in general in Indonesia, as one important political force, has been less of an inspiration for our democracy despite the attempt of keeping its existence and relevance in the much more political dynamics of Indonesia in its 12th year of Reformasi. I myself, has been involved in the so-called “student movement” practice since 2007-2009 as part of Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa (BEM) or student body government of University of Indonesia, taking part in several student demonstrations within the years. This article, hence, is more of a self-reflection in the purpose of getting more understanding for the broader audience about what has been happening inside the movement (that is, particularly in the BEM), and for students about how to honestly view our movement.
The (perceived) Legacy
One important aspect we have to put into account in understanding Indonesian student movement is that the historical legacy that we, current Indonesian student activist, perceive. This sense of “legacy” is derived from the role of Indonesian youth in 1928 “Youth Oath” which marked the very first explicit calls for nationalism in the Indonesian modern era. This was followed by the significant role played by the so called “youth” (pemuda) on urging Soekarno-Hatta on declaring Indonesian independence while sort of isolating the two charismatic leaders in Rengasdengklok. This was not to mention the numerous Indonesian youth scholars as well as activists in Indonesian history towards independence.
The legacy was then followed through in the early years of independence. One notable figure was Soe Hok Gie, a Chinese descent University of Indonesia’s student that was tragically died during his travel to the volcanic mountain of Semeru (1969). He was very vocal in criticizing the Soekarno regime (orde lama) through many of his writings as well as his leadership in many demonstrations at the times. However, his legacy is still alive within many current Indonesian student activists. His ideas were put into a book such as “Note from a Demonstrator” (Catatan Harian Seorang Demonstran) in 1983, a biography by John Maxwell in 1997, and even made into movies in 2005, played by actor Nicholas Saputra and resulted in rave reviews from Indonesian large audience.
And then there were two other events that are worth noted if we would like to see the perceived legacy from Indonesian past student movement: the 1974 “Malari” event (literally means “15th of January tragedy”) where large student protest was happening confronting the visits of Japanese Prime Minister that was perceived as bringing back colonialism to Indonesia. This generation of Malari was now even features in Indonesian politics, such as former Golkar’s chairman Akbar Tandjung and political activist Fadjroel Rachman. The other event was of course the toppling of Soeharto regime. The image of a large mass of students, wearing their almamater jacket, invading the parliament building has been all around within the hearts and minds of Indonesian student movements until now.
Those historical aspects play important roles in shaping how Indonesian student activists perceive its environment and themselves nowadays. Firstly, we portray student movement as a “heroic” image movement. A large mass of students that are against the tyranny, regardless what issue we are facing or what audience we are targeting. In fact, there was a funny story where some students, when doing a demonstration, asked some police to do a bit of a hard treatment against them; so that the demonstration could get some reviews from the press (the image of police authority cracking students’ demonstration has always been ironically desirable for Indonesian student activist). In fact, participation in a demonstration has developed into some kind of “criteria” to be called an activist.
Second, there is a large sense among Indonesian student activist of the ability of toppling a ruler (in many cases, the president). Regardless of the actual history of Soekarno, Soeharto, and Gus Dur toppling from their presidency, student activists believes that they have always been a key element in the rise or fall of Indonesian political leaders. To put it in a larger context, Indonesian student activists have always been putting themselves as in opposition of the government. The first thing that comes up in the discussion among activist would be “what to criticize from which issue”. There is some kind of norms circulating within many student movement organizations such as BEM that being a student activist is equal to being in opposition to the government. In a more practical situation, there is no way a student can be president of certain student political movement if he/she takes a soft stance against the government.
Putting the movement within context
Through the above perception and mode of thinking, a student movement activist exists within the socio-political dynamics of Indonesia, reaching now it’s 12th year of Reformasi. The politics of information has developed into a mode that was unthinkable to happen before 1997-1998. A student activist is no longer the only elements that are vocal in the society. There are now hundreds of civil society groups, NGO, religious group, as well as numerous political youth organizations. They organize demonstrations, campaign, rallies, events, you name it. These various organizations are now doing something that used to be exclusive of student activism. Moreover, the type of the regime has changed. Democracy is getting normalized by the fluid of freedom of press and expression. Elections are held regularly. People can say whatever they want about everything practically. As the source of democratic power varies, many groups are actually supported by some political forces. In this sense, student activism is pulled to various political forces, making them prone to cooptation.
The above macro-political context is met with the mind-set perceived by many student activists. Student movement hasn’t found a common basis for their movement. There is not the common enemy as the movement in 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1998’s. The theme of the movement hasn’t been focused and well-articulated enough. There has been attempt to emulate the kind of message as the “tritura” (three people’s demand) in late 1960’s such as “Saptatura” (seven People Demand) comprising a very broad themes of demands to the governments). The method of the movement hasn’t much changed either, relying mostly on demonstration, fantasizing themselves as in 1960’s or 1998’s. Slogans are everywhere and it doesn’t need to be academic as long as you condemn the government’s failure, you can give oratory speech.
In search of new nest
The mismatch between socio-political context and the mindset has resulted in the decreasing of roles and influence of student movement activism in Indonesia. Instead of being the effective medium within the Indonesian society towards the betterment, the movement has even lost more and more legitimacy, from the “people” (rakyat) it tries to represent, from fellow students, as well as from political elite of the country.
The people’s response towards the current student movement is easily shown by the widespread worries from many university students’ parents if their children would be part of the demonstrations. This worry of parents reflects at least two things related to student movement activism: lack of legitimacy in terms of substance and in terms of methods. In terms of substance, this phenomenon reflects another mismatch of what the student activist thinks they’re fighting for and what the general public thinks what they need. For instance, I can assume that while the student activists are calling for “SBY be responsible for Century case”, the majority of the people are rather uninterested and would rather have the case closed as soon as possible. In terms of method, the heroic picture of demonstration doesn’t attract the majority public as it used to in 1998 or before. Instead of support, people are more and more concern of demonstration that causes traffic jams everywhere.
Moreover, even among fellow university students, there has been widespread of declines of interest or sympathy towards student movement activism. There is less and less people would incline to participate in demonstration. Demonstration has turned out to be some kind of “tourism” as many students who participated for the first time in demonstration happily takes photograph of them during a demonstration. There is also more and more other organization or interest group set up in respected universities that seem to be of more values for students’ future carrier than participating in a political movement. This is not to mention how low the political elite of Indonesia see student movement nowadays. Many university student bodies are actually well-influenced by several political parties, resulting in the co-opted political message. This lack of legitimacy results the changing theme of student movement activism into a “legitimacy-seeking” game.
This current situation is very much in contrast to how previous student movements in Indonesia. The Boedi Oetomo movements in 1908 kicked start the revolution of Indonesian way of thinking as a nation. The 1945 youth generation plays important part in accelerating and balancing the old group to declare independence. Not to mention the whole student movement during the Orde Lama and Orde Baru that inspires Indonesian people about the idea of democracy. Yes it is true that some of Indonesian movements during this period were portrayed in a heroic, anti-government and anti-colonialization. But it was the name of the game then. Now it is a different game we are playing. A movement needs to find the right nest or the right social context to inspire its society.
The Indonesian student movement activism in the Reformasi Era hasn’t inspired Indonesian people to anywhere. Instead we have been working hard the wrong work which is finding our legitimacy with the old mind set. We are getting less and less sympathy from the broad public, let alone our own friends and our government. There are several things that should be noted about the development of student movement activism in Indonesia, to get out of the hole. First, we must rethink our role as “student”. Being a student activist literally means that we are student first then an activist. But so far, we have been an activist without any academic color. We demanded things from the authority without actually understanding the complexity of issues nowadays. Secondly, student movement activist must abandon completely the “victim mentality”. As history showed us, student movement in Indonesia always set the trends, not just followed the trend. The idea of Indonesia wasn’t even well-articulated before Boedi Oetomo in 1908. This is very much different right now, where student activists are just being vocal in response to today’s issue. Even when you look at the demand, nothing’s really new and the public can’t even comprehend it. Third, student movement should rethink the kind of campaign it undertakes. Demonstration is no longer seen as necessary and desirable. Today’s campaign is more of a public relations campaign rather than heroic campaign. And lastly, student movement should find ways to ally more with academic world, the roots of its existence and the people, the very society it lies its all movements. This is important because in the era where everyone can say without any constraint, politics of knowledge is needed most and nobody could articulate it better than student with academic and people-based insight.
Time to Inspire
The new way towards this new nest has been tried by some student activists themselves. It is just the effort hasn’t been successful in terms of breaking the old norms of “heroic movement” and thus hasn’t transmitted the message to its stakeholder (let alone their fellow students). Some notable efforts are worth mentioned here. As in early 2010, the student activist of Bandung Technological University (ITB) held University Student Conference in an event called “ITB Fair 2010”. The goal of this event is to reorient student activism from vertically demanding to the government, to a more community service based program. Involving many other student activists all over Indonesia, this kind of reorientation is exactly what is needed to make student movement an inspiration for Indonesian society.
The road to reorientation is a long journey that can not be achieved simply through one event or conference. It needs consistency and sometimes put the “reformer” at odds with its fellow activists as well as some political elite seeking their support for some political cause. For example, the road to reorientation is surely difficult for student movement organization that relies heavily on the support from some political party under bow. At the same time, the dynamics of political situation in Indonesia will always lure student activist to be vocal in certain “sexy” issue, even when they actually don’t pay attention to the issue before the mass media brings it up. In short, the culture of “reaction” should be put aside, giving the student movement’s priority to do some concrete actions. It is time for Indonesian student movement activist to set the agenda themselves instead of being a tool for the higher political elite.
I am not writing this just because I am part of them, but this is also because of our country needs student movement as an important of its development and our democracy. We need to find the right nest of this movement, suitable to nowadays’ condition.
patryapratama
