A woman as president

I would like to comment on the pros and cons of having a woman as president for Indonesia.

Mrs. R.A. Kartini, a Javanese princess, fought for women's rights in this country and we are grateful to her that to date Indonesian women have a right to vote, get an academic title and pursue a career. In R.A. Kartini's time women's rights were nonexistent.

It is sad to see that there are still men in this country who are so afraid of competition from women in every field of expertise, especially the post of president. Islam-dominated countries like Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh, have had lady prime ministers in the past. Bangladesh still has one. So what is wrong with this country?

Should we forever lag behind? Was Mrs. Kartini's struggle in vain? I do not believe so. Look at Mrs. Miranda Gultom, for example. I am also a fan of Mrs. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, an excellent person in her field of expertise. She is smart, self-confident, scrupulous, sure of herself and I see her as a future minister of foreign affairs.

It is sad that a number of men in our country are still opposed to a woman president. These men obviously lack self- confidence and use any silly little excuse to ban a woman from becoming president.

L. VAN DER ZEE-OEHMKE

Jakarta