Muslim women rally against violence

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)