Housewives, nuns, prostitutes join protests

JAKARTA (JP): Housewives, several nuns and a number of sex workers were seen mingling with thousands of female students and activists holding rallies demanding an end to the economic crisis and sweeping reforms in various cities yesterday.

Female activists tacked their own agenda onto student protests for reform that have been gaining momentum over the past two months to commemorate the birth of the pioneer of women's emancipation in Indonesia, Raden Ajeng Kartini, on April 21, 1879. She died in childbirth in 1904. During her short life she established a school for girls and produced writings on women's suffering and their struggle for equality.

The all-female demonstrations took place in Surabaya, Ujungpandang, Jakarta, and Bandung, and were followed or held concurrently with the protests for reform involving both male and female students.

In Surabaya, 1,000 women staged a free speech forum at Airlangga University demanding reform and lower prices. After negotiation with the local authorities, they were permitted to leave their campus.

Female students, lecturers, Catholic nuns, nurses, housewives, factory workers and a number of prostitutes from a famous red- light district in the city joined the procession.

A number of student activists used the occasion to present roses to pedicab drivers, security personnel, and even motorists who stopped to watch the rally. The roses had small cards attached which read "don't let your conscience die."

The organizers, calling themselves the Committee of Women for Democracy, said in their statement that they rejected any acts, views and perceptions that belittled women.

"We women were among the first to suffer from the crisis. The price of milk for our children increased, even sanitary towels are more expensive now," one activist said.

In Bandung, 2,000 students gathered at Bandung Institute of Technology for an anti-violence demonstration which featured female scholars Karlina Leksono Supelli and N.M. Soerdia, and singer Oppie Andaresta.

The students and activists ended the gathering with a prayer.

Not far from the institute, 1,000 students from various universities assembled at Bandung Islamic University later in the day. This demonstration deteriorated into a clash with security personnel, who prevented students from going onto the streets.

At least seven students were injured, one reportedly suffered concussion. Six police officers were also injured and required medical attention.

In Jakarta, all-female demonstrations were held at Pancasila University in South Jakarta, and at Indonesia Institute of Technology (ITI) in Serpong, Tangerang, demanding reform and a greater role for women in national development.

One hundred students from the Tangerang institute marched through the campus singing songs in praise of Kartini and criticizing the Minister of Social Services Siti Hardijanti Rukmana. They unfurled a banner reading "women's power for reform."

The demonstration was guarded by a force made up in the main of policewomen, one of whom could not hold back tears when the protesting students handed her a white orchid.

The students in Ujungpandang demanded the dissolution of the "nepotistic cabinet", and an end to corruption, collusion and discrimination against women.

Female students staged a free speech forum while their male counterparts stood around the periphery of Hasanuddin University square in support of their demonstration.

In a different location in Surabaya, 500 members of the Indonesian Moslem Students Movement (PMII) from 12 universities gathered at Sunan Ampel Institute for Islamic Studies to perform shalat ghaib -- a special prayer for the dead.

They said the prayer was for the demise of the New Order. They also called on religious leaders to join students in the movement for reform.

In Jakarta, demonstrations involving thousands of students from various universities were held concurrently at the campuses of Mercu Buana University, Sahid University and Jayabaya University.

In Yogyakarta, lecturers and members of Dharma Wanita (the association of civil servants' wives), joined thousands of students demonstrating for an end to the economic crisis at Gadjah Mada University. Also in attendance were the outspoken sociologist Loekman Soetrisno and his wife, assistant rector of the university Bambang Kartiko, and the wives of rector Ichlasul Amal and former rector Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri. (swe/43/har/nur/30/23/swa/44/byg/rms/anr)