Muslim women rally against violence

JAKARTA (JP): A number of Muslim women's organizations held a rally at the square of the Al Azhar Mosque in South Jakarta Thursday to call for an end to violence and to preserve national unity.

Hundreds of women from various organizations included representatives of the Khadijah Muslim Women's Movement (Gema Khadijah), Seruni Kamii of the Muslim Action Front, Al-Irsyad Women (Wanita Al-Irsyad), Women of Asy-Syafi'iyah boarding school (Putri As-Syafi'iyah) and those of the Indonesian Mosque Council.

The chairwoman of Jakarta-based Gema Khadidjah, Sri Rahayu, said the violence which has killed thousands in Ambon in Maluku, Sambas in West Kalimantan, Kupang in West Nusa Tenggara, Banyuwangi in East Java, Surakarta in Central Jakarta, Jakarta and Aceh, were not forgotten, Antara reported.

"The most vulnerable victims of all the consequences of unrest are women and children," Sri Rahayu said.

She said this is why the movement appealed to Indonesians to build a more "dignified" country, committed to values of "human rights, truth and justice, and to ensure a positive international image of Indonesia".

Ahead of the June elections and the following General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, she said the movement was trying to build "a sense of responsibility, particularly among women, to ensure the process to democracy was in line with the principles of universal human rights".

In line with this purpose, the movement is to hold public gatherings in 102 areas considered prone to unrest in Jakarta, she said, involving distribution of stickers and banners advocating an end to violence.

Friday's event featured speeches from the organizations represented, poetry readings, and a joint statement stressing commitment to "fight for a dignified Indonesia through love and care". (anr)