President points to RI women's plight<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie marked Women's Day on
\nTuesday by drawing public attention to how modernization has not
\nspared women from violence, harassment, or abuse of their rights.<\/p>\n
Addressing a ceremony attended by First Lady Hasri Ainun
\nBesari Habibie, State Minister for Women's Roles Tutty Alawiyah,
\nthe wives of Cabinet ministers and 200 other participants at the
\nState Palace, Habibie said the turn of the century should herald
\na restoration of women's dignity.<\/p>\n
The President said how the modern age, marked as it is with
\nrapid scientific and technological advancement, was often blamed
\nfor a process of dehumanization that strips human beings,
\nespecially women, of their dignity.<\/p>\n
\"This dehumanization can take place if science and
\ntechnological advancement are not accompanied by strong religious
\nfaith,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He cited business activities which often used women as mere
\nobjects for commercial purposes. \"Respect for women must be
\nrestored,\" Habibie said. \"There should no longer be any gender-
\nbased domination because the survival of humanity depends on the
\ntwo sexes.\"<\/p>\n
Habibie also called for greater attention to be paid to the
\nfact that more women died during childbirth in Indonesia compared
\nto the other Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Farid Anfasa Moeloek said last month that
\nevery year, 20,000 women die of aseptic labor, bleeding,
\npoisoning during pregnancy and as the result of poor nutritional
\nintake which is 50 times worse than in other ASEAN countries.<\/p>\n
The mortality rate, Moeloek said, is \"equivalent to a Jumbo
\njet full of expectant mothers crashing every week.\"<\/p>\n
The Women's Day is commemorated to mark the beginning of
\nIndonesian women's awareness of their existence and contribution
\nto the nation. On Dec. 22, 1928, Indonesian women activists
\nestablished the Indonesian Congress of Women to foster unity
\namong women's organizations.<\/p>\n
The day was also commemorated in many other places. In
\nBanjarmasin, South Kalimantan, for instance, Governor Gusti Hasan
\nAman promised to give greater opportunity to women to develop
\ntheir careers in various sectors, especially in the
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that much of women's potential was still
\nuntapped, Antara said. \"Let women become heads of offices, bureau
\nchiefs, village heads, regents, mayors, and even governors,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The question of women presidents was brought to the surface
\nlast month when a group of Muslim scholars proposed that
\nIndonesia's next president must be male and Muslim.<\/p>\n
\"Please heed the voice of our women,\" Gusti Hasan said. \"It
\nwould be undemocratic if their aspirations were eclipsed by the
\nmale domination in politics, economics, legal affairs and other
\nareas.\"<\/p>\n
In Purwokerto, Central Java, dozens of female students from
\nvarious universities marked the day with a street rally. Calling
\nthemselves the Association of Women for Justice, the students
\nmarched down several streets.<\/p>\n
Their posters said, among other things, \"Reject mobilization
\nof women for political interests\" and \"Kartini (national heroine)
\nrejects Karmila, Air Mata Ibu.\"<\/p>\n
The last two are the titles of popular television series.
\n(45\/swe\/prb)<\/p>",
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