Activists rally for women's right to lead nation

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)