Female activists seek greater political role

Female activists seek greater political role

JAKARTA (JP): Women activists and scholars, demanding a
greater say in politics, are urging that at least 30 percent of
the seats in the House of Representatives be allotted to women
legislators.

Led by journalist Herawati Diah and psychology professor
Saparinah Sadli, the activists grouped under the Women for
Election Awareness Movement aired their views during a meeting
with Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday. The meeting
occurred during Abdurrahman's open house for women at his
residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

In the meeting, the activists urged Indonesian women only to
support political parties whose list of legislative candidates
was composed of at least 30 percent women. The group also urged
the support of "political parties which promote women's causes".

Also among the women in the group were journalist Toeti
Kakiailatu, Titi Sumbung and welfare activist Kardinah Soepardjo
Roestam. The group also boasted the support of women activists
from organizations such as Fatayat NU of Nahdlatul Ulama and the
Indonesian Bishop Council.

Only 108 out of the 1,000 seats in the People's Consultative
Assembly are held by women as of November 1997.

In the Reform and Development Cabinet, there are only two
women ministers out of a total of 36 ministers: State Minister
for Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah and Minister of Social
Services Justika Baharsyah.

"Why only 30 percent?" Abdurrahman, known as Gus Dur, asked
the activists.

He added that the proposed figure was realistic for the
present because of the generally lower level of education among
Indonesian women.

Education was important in lifting the position of women in
society, he added.

The activists also aired their concern over social and
political developments, including recent unrest and the sexual
abuse of women during the May riots here.

Following the report of the fact-finding team formed by the
government to investigate the May riots, the government last
month acknowledged that 76 women had been violated, but denied
the team's conclusion that the riots were in any way organized.

Abdurrahman said he doubted whether the facts of the riots
would ever be known.

Saparinah, a member of the Joint Fact-finding Team and
chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence Against Women,
repeated earlier statements that it was difficult to verify the
exact number of rapes.

"The victims of rape only wanted to talk to the few people
they trusted," Saparinah said.

Separately, Arnold Purba, representing Solidaritas Nusa Bangsa
and eight other organizations, shared the results of a workshop
on ethnic, religious, gender and social class discrimination.

Arnold said that the public expected a democratic and fair
state which protected their interests without discrimination.

The groups also demanded that decision makers ratify the UN
Convention on Racial Discrimination and thoroughly investigate
riots with ethnic, racial and religious overtones. (01)