Female activists seek greater political role<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Women activists and scholars, demanding a
\ngreater say in politics, are urging that at least 30 percent of
\nthe seats in the House of Representatives be allotted to women
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
Led by journalist Herawati Diah and psychology professor
\nSaparinah Sadli, the activists grouped under the Women for
\nElection Awareness Movement aired their views during a meeting
\nwith Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday. The meeting
\noccurred during Abdurrahman's open house for women at his
\nresidence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, the activists urged Indonesian women only to
\nsupport political parties whose list of legislative candidates
\nwas composed of at least 30 percent women. The group also urged
\nthe support of \"political parties which promote women's causes\".<\/p>\n
Also among the women in the group were journalist Toeti
\nKakiailatu, Titi Sumbung and welfare activist Kardinah Soepardjo
\nRoestam. The group also boasted the support of women activists
\nfrom organizations such as Fatayat NU of Nahdlatul Ulama and the
\nIndonesian Bishop Council.<\/p>\n
Only 108 out of the 1,000 seats in the People's Consultative
\nAssembly are held by women as of November 1997.<\/p>\n
In the Reform and Development Cabinet, there are only two
\nwomen ministers out of a total of 36 ministers: State Minister
\nfor Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah and Minister of Social
\nServices Justika Baharsyah.<\/p>\n
\"Why only 30 percent?\" Abdurrahman, known as Gus Dur, asked
\nthe activists.<\/p>\n
He added that the proposed figure was realistic for the
\npresent because of the generally lower level of education among
\nIndonesian women.<\/p>\n
Education was important in lifting the position of women in
\nsociety, he added.<\/p>\n
The activists also aired their concern over social and
\npolitical developments, including recent unrest and the sexual
\nabuse of women during the May riots here.<\/p>\n
Following the report of the fact-finding team formed by the
\ngovernment to investigate the May riots, the government last
\nmonth acknowledged that 76 women had been violated, but denied
\nthe team's conclusion that the riots were in any way organized.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he doubted whether the facts of the riots
\nwould ever be known.<\/p>\n
Saparinah, a member of the Joint Fact-finding Team and
\nchairwoman of the National Commission on Violence Against Women,
\nrepeated earlier statements that it was difficult to verify the
\nexact number of rapes.<\/p>\n
\"The victims of rape only wanted to talk to the few people
\nthey trusted,\" Saparinah said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Arnold Purba, representing Solidaritas Nusa Bangsa
\nand eight other organizations, shared the results of a workshop
\non ethnic, religious, gender and social class discrimination.<\/p>\n
Arnold said that the public expected a democratic and fair
\nstate which protected their interests without discrimination.<\/p>\n
The groups also demanded that decision makers ratify the UN
\nConvention on Racial Discrimination and thoroughly investigate
\nriots with ethnic, racial and religious overtones. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/female-activists-seek-greater-political-role-1447893297",
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