Megawati tells women to stop seeking 'pseudo-advancement'
Megawati tells women to stop seeking 'pseudo-advancement'
Kartika Bagus C., The Jakarta Post, Surakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri pleaded with women on Sunday to
stop struggling for a quota of high positions to avoid "pseudo
advancement".
"Avoid seeking roles or gains by struggling for a quota or
allotment of high positions," she said in a speech to mark a
Kartini Day celebration at the packed Manahan Stadium in
Surakarta, Central Java.
"Women will only achieve a pseudo-advance through such an
approach," Megawati added.
The occasion was to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of
Javanese Kartini who has been credited as a heroine of woman's
emancipation in Indonesia.
Megawati, the country's first female president, urged the
nation's women's movement leaders to step up efforts to increase
women's capability and roles, so as to equal that of men.
"But this should be done in ways that will not create new
discrimination, which ultimately will only give birth to new
problems," she said.
Women should continue to improve their skills and develop
their potential in order to increase democracy and respect for
human rights and justice, added Megawati, the daughter of the
country's founding president Sukarno.
"Let's show that Indonesian women are able to develop ability,
roles and dedication to the people and the nation ... to work
much more to contribute to the country's development," she said.
Citing data from the 2000 census, Megawati said women totaled
101,814,435 people, or made up 50.4 percent of the country's
population.
"With that figure, we can imagine how great is the potential
of women and their role in the reform movement," she said.
However, she added that the classic stereotype, that
Indonesian women lacked productivity and capability, was still
heard everywhere.
The President said the 1945 Constitution guaranteed women
equal rights with those of men, to play their role in society.
"The Constitution clearly states that all citizens, women and
men, have equal positions before the law and the government," she
said.
The Kartini Day commemoration was highlighted by a number of
activities, including traditional arts performances. However,
some of the activities were canceled at the last minute.
The occasion had also to be delayed for more than three hours,
from the scheduled start at 8 a.m., because Megawati's arrival at
the stadium was late.
The commemoration was marred by a minor clash between police
and at least 70 demonstrators, which left at least four people
injured after being beaten by security forces.
The scuffle started after the police told the protesters,
mostly women, from the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement
(PMII), affiliated to the nation's largest Muslim organization,
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), to disperse, claiming that demonstrations
were banned by law on a national holiday.
As they were about to disperse, the police suddenly attacked
the demonstrators, forcing them to flee to safety.
Some of the protesters were arrested and taken to the
Surakarta police headquarters.
Kartika Bagus C., The Jakarta Post, Surakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri pleaded with women on Sunday to
stop struggling for a quota of high positions to avoid "pseudo
advancement".
"Avoid seeking roles or gains by struggling for a quota or
allotment of high positions," she said in a speech to mark a
Kartini Day celebration at the packed Manahan Stadium in
Surakarta, Central Java.
"Women will only achieve a pseudo-advance through such an
approach," Megawati added.
The occasion was to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of
Javanese Kartini who has been credited as a heroine of woman's
emancipation in Indonesia.
Megawati, the country's first female president, urged the
nation's women's movement leaders to step up efforts to increase
women's capability and roles, so as to equal that of men.
"But this should be done in ways that will not create new
discrimination, which ultimately will only give birth to new
problems," she said.
Women should continue to improve their skills and develop
their potential in order to increase democracy and respect for
human rights and justice, added Megawati, the daughter of the
country's founding president Sukarno.
"Let's show that Indonesian women are able to develop ability,
roles and dedication to the people and the nation ... to work
much more to contribute to the country's development," she said.
Citing data from the 2000 census, Megawati said women totaled
101,814,435 people, or made up 50.4 percent of the country's
population.
"With that figure, we can imagine how great is the potential
of women and their role in the reform movement," she said.
However, she added that the classic stereotype, that
Indonesian women lacked productivity and capability, was still
heard everywhere.
The President said the 1945 Constitution guaranteed women
equal rights with those of men, to play their role in society.
"The Constitution clearly states that all citizens, women and
men, have equal positions before the law and the government," she
said.
The Kartini Day commemoration was highlighted by a number of
activities, including traditional arts performances. However,
some of the activities were canceled at the last minute.
The occasion had also to be delayed for more than three hours,
from the scheduled start at 8 a.m., because Megawati's arrival at
the stadium was late.
The commemoration was marred by a minor clash between police
and at least 70 demonstrators, which left at least four people
injured after being beaten by security forces.
The scuffle started after the police told the protesters,
mostly women, from the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement
(PMII), affiliated to the nation's largest Muslim organization,
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), to disperse, claiming that demonstrations
were banned by law on a national holiday.
As they were about to disperse, the police suddenly attacked
the demonstrators, forcing them to flee to safety.
Some of the protesters were arrested and taken to the
Surakarta police headquarters.