200 women protest against violence

Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Mataram

In observance of the International Day of the Eradication of Violence against Women, which will fall on Nov. 25, more than 200 women held a demonstration against violence in the city on Wednesday, demanding the government introduce laws to protect Indonesian women both at home and overseas.

The demonstration attracted the public's attention as the demonstrators, all women, marched in several main streets in the city and stopped at the provincial legislative council compound.

The demonstrators, most of them victims of violence perpetrated by their husbands, circulated brochures and stickers condemning violence against women to motorists and bystanders on the streets.

Endang, coordinator of the demonstration, said she and her fellow demonstrators demanded the government introduce at least two laws to protect women from violent actions and those working overseas.

"The laws, which are badly needed to eradicate violence against women in the country, should also stipulate harsh sanctions against those carrying out violence against women," she said.

Endang acknowledged the demonstration was held in response to the rampant violence against women in rural areas in the province.

"The high divorce rate in the province has a lot to do with the rampant violence against women. Many wives have chosen separation and divorce or left their husbands because they have been unable to endure their husbands' violent actions.

"In observing the international day, we want all forms of violence against women to be eradicated," she said.

Eighty-four-year-old Patrice Anne Williams, an Australian citizen who has lived on Gili Meno Island in the province, said she joined the demonstration to protest her neighbour's violent actions against her.

"I am a victim of violence exerted by my French neighbor Jean Marrie Wagneries on April 19, 2000," she said, adding that Wagneries tortured her when she protested against him occupying her land on the island without any permission.

She said she had reported the torture case to the local police but so far no action had been taken against the suspect because of the absence of witnesses.