Activists rally for women's right to lead nation

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of activists and professionals are vigorously defending the right of women to become president, branding as violations of human rights and unconstitutional the flurry of recent statements that women are unfit to lead the country.

In Semarang, 22 non-governmental organizations stated that statements discriminating against women for the presidency were part of political intrigue "which greatly offends women".

Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), is the center of the controversy although the statements, many of them citing Islamic teachings, have not referred to her by name. The party is leading in provisional results.

Antara reported on Monday that a joint statement from the organizations grouped in the Forum for Equality for Humanity condemned the stated bar to women in positions of political leadership.

"We condemn such harassment and insults and urge the political elite and those in power to stop these political tricks and debates which focus on women to gain power," the statement read.

Among the signatories were election monitors, women's organizations and student groups. Both Muslim and Christian groups were represented.

The United Development Party (PPP) has said only a male Muslim is eligible for the presidency. However, the country's Muslim leadership has not taken a unified stance. On Saturday 100 Muslim clerics in Central Java said gender was not an issue and they would support anyone elected for president "as long as it is for the benefit of the nation".

On Saturday leading politicians Abdurrahman Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Nur Mahmudi Ismail of the Justice Party (PK) and Hamzah Haz of PPP met to discuss a way out of an anticipated deadlock in the presidential election.

On Sunday in Jakarta, 284 activists and professionals and 22 other non-governmental organizations condemned what they said was the "unconstitutional" stance of those who declared women did not have the right to become president.

The activists said women's equal role in politics is guaranteed in the 1953 UN Convention on Women's Political Role, which was enacted into Law No. 68/1958, and the 1979 UN Convention on the Eradication of Discrimination Against Women, enacted into Law No. 7/1984.

Meanwhile, PDI Perjuangan dismissed on Monday the possibility of its party nominating other candidates for the presidency.

PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Dimyati Hartono said the decision to nominate Megawati was unanimous and irrevocable.

"Mbak Mega is PDI Perjuangan's only presidential candidate, and we've never thought of seeking alternative candidates," he said before addressing a seminar on the Prospect of PDI Perjuangan's Election Victory in the National Political Map in Semarang on Sunday evening.

"As the victorious party contesting the elections, it's normal for PDI Perjuangan to nominate its chairperson for the presidency."

Separately, PPP deputy chairman Karmani reiterated that PPP would only nominate "the best Muslim, who is far better than (B.J.) Habibie and Megawati".

Anticipating a deadlock in the presidential election, he repeated the party's suggestions that leading election contestants -- PDI Perjuangan, Golkar, PKB, PPP and PAN -- should meet and decide on a presidential candidate acceptable to all sections of the nation.

A member of the law-making body of the influential Nahdlatul Ulama, Noer Iskandar al-Barsany, also said separately that leading political parties should provide alternative candidates for the presidency.

Karmani suggested that leaders of leading political parties meet and establish an alternative candidate acceptable to all.

Meanwhile, political expert Ryaas Rasyid said on Monday that the presidential election, if held through an open vote, would be vulnerable to "money politics".

"If there were more than one presidential candidate ... it would be better if the election was held through a secret ballot," Ryaas, who is also director-general for general administration and regional autonomy, said during an address to the special committee discussing changes in internal regulations for the legislative bodies.

Individual legislators would easily be recognized by the person or institution which was paying them off, he said. (har/45/imn)