'Dharma Wanita lacks democratic values'

'Dharma Wanita lacks democratic values'

JAKARTA (JP): Come the National Women's Day, and Dharma
Wanita, the organization of civil servants' wives, is the target
of criticism.

The latest criticism came yesterday from noted scholar Mochtar
Buchori, who accused Dharma Wanita of being undemocratic.

"Is it still necessary for us to have Dharma Wanita?" the
rector of the Muhammadiyah's Teachers' Training Institution said.

"Dharma Wanita does not fit our democratic society," he added.

The organization was founded in 1974 with the objective of
promoting the welfare of its members through activities outside
their homes. The role of Dharma Wanita has repeatedly come under
scrutiny in the last two weeks at various seminars held to mark
National Women's Day, which falls on Dec. 22.

Mochtar yesterday made his point in a discussion held by the
Women's Support Project and Indonesia in Country Orientation
Program.

A retired civil servant himself (he worked for the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences), he objected to the structure of the
organization which puts members' positions in accordance to the
ranks of their husbands.

Mochtar said that the system put women in the inferior
position. "Women merely constitute the extension of the
husbands," he said.

Head of the Women's Graduate Program of the University of
Indonesia, Prof. Saparinah Sadli, who was one of the speakers at
the discussion, also observed that there were negative aspects in
Dharma Wanita, which was clouded by political elements.

However, she did not agree to the disbanding of Dharma Wanita,
saying that the organization had the potential to improve women's
conditions through the implementation of programs that were
beneficial for women.

She urged the committee of Dharma Wanita to create programs
which could improve the condition of women in the country.

"They must have the will to change the program," Saparinah
said.

Dharma Wanita operates schools and supports government social
development activities.

Last week Atie Wardiman Djojonegoro, wife of the Minister of
Education and Culture, admitted there were a lot of problems in
Dharma Wanita and she suggested the program be revised.

Syamsiah Ahmad, an assistant to the Minister of Women's Roles,
had said earlier that the government should review its policy on
the organization.(sim)