Female president

From Neraca

The Indonesian Women's Congress, a federation established in 1928 of 72 women's organizations, strongly rejects the opinion that Indonesia's president and vice president should be male, an opinion which is quite contradictory to human rights. Article 27 paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution stipulates that every citizen is the same before the law and government with no exception.

This must be taken to mean that men and women have the same rights and responsibilities, irrespective of their ethnicity and religion. In this context, we are greatly perplexed with the idea which differentiates the rights and responsibilities of men and women. Claiming that a woman cannot become president or vice president is an abuse of the people's aspirations and women's political rights.

MRS. HJ. ENNY BUSIRI

Chairwoman

MRS. S. SOEMARTONO D.

Secretary-General