Parties separated from reality: Experts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A dialog between political parties and women
\nhere has revealed a gap between the parties and the reality of
\nsociety, experts noted Thursday.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Julia Suryakusuma and Siti Musdah Mulya, a
\nresearcher with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, were asked in
\nthe dialog to comment on the views aired by representatives of
\nthree parties, particularly regarding women's issues.<\/p>\n
\"The parties' representatives here provided normative and
\nconservative answers about women's issues,\" Julia said on the
\nsidelines of the talks.<\/p>\n
She had tried to explain what a \"gender perspective\" was to
\nthe forum, which she defined among other things as the awareness
\nof various forms of injustice suffered by women.<\/p>\n
\"A big gap between the parties and the realities here occurs
\nbecause political parties represent the status quo,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The morning session in the function held by a non-governmental
\norganization, Women's Solidarity, featured the Crescent Star
\nParty (PBB), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) and the United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
The afternoon session featured the ruling Golkar party, the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB).<\/p>\n
Among other issues touched on were women and work, and also
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
A party representative had said while domestic work was
\n\"noble\" in one's own home, it was lowly for women to do paid
\ndomestic jobs.<\/p>\n
Siti Musdah of the Ministry of Religious Affairs said such a
\nview must be changed.<\/p>\n
\"It is not their destiny (kodrat) for women to be fully
\nresponsible for domestic work ... But many people, especially
\nmen, misunderstand religious values regarding women. They think
\nthat women have to serve them unconditionally. So it is time to
\nreshape this outlook.\"<\/p>\n
She said she believed men would not be able to pay the
\neconomic value of domestic work.<\/p>\n
Legislator and frequent talk show host Ekky Syahruddin of
\nGolkar said gender was not a problem.<\/p>\n
\"I don't see any specific oppression of women here,\" Ekky
\nsaid, to the accompaniment of boos from the audience.<\/p>\n
In reality, Julia said women were the ones suffering from
\ndiscrimination.<\/p>\n
Echoing some of the other speakers, Ekky said the core problem
\nparties were to address was that of the whole society, not only
\nwomen.<\/p>\n
\"So if women want to fight for their rights and aspirations,
\ncome on and join Golkar.\"<\/p>\n
Khofifah Indah Parawansa of the National Awakening Party
\nslammed Ekky's remarks, saying that during the previous New Order
\ngovernment women were \"alienated and treated as second-grade
\ncitizens.\"<\/p>\n
She cited compulsory membership of the civil servants' wives
\norganization Dharma Wanita set up in 1974 to help Golkar win
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"For a long time many women did not realize that joining such
\nan organization was the same as having their political rights
\ntaken away\" as they were obliged to vote for Golkar with the risk
\nof their husbands losing their jobs or harming their careers if
\nthey did not.<\/p>\n
She said therefore her party's platform \"clearly states that
\nwe support women's empowerment and we are against
\ndiscrimination.\"<\/p>\n
Novianti Nasution of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle described how her party was continuously fighting to
\nensure that wage discrimination would no longer occur.<\/p>\n
Suprenita, a deputy secretary general of the Crescent Star
\nParty, said her party would struggle to improve the position of
\nwomen in line with the wish of God, which was to make it equal to
\nthat of men.<\/p>\n
Similar talks between parties and women, aimed at urging the
\nformer to take up women's issues, are planned in nine major
\ncities such as Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi, Yogyakarta, Medan
\nin North Sumatra, Pontianak in West Kalimantan, Surakarta in
\nCentral Java, and Merauke in Irian Jaya. (edt)<\/p>",
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