Navy to push for gender equality

JAKARTA (JP): The Navy will promote gender equality for top positions in the force, says an official.

Rear Adm. Abu Hanifah, an assistant to the Navy chief of personnel affairs, said duties of strategic positions would be modified to accommodate the female nature.

"All soldiers, including female ones, have a right to develop their military careers and the Navy leadership is committed to promoting equality," he said in a meeting with Navy female personnel at the Navy Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta yesterday.

The Navy has had a number of middle-ranking female personnel, including Lt. Col. Ida Farida, a senior staffer at the Navy Headquarters, Capt. Susaini, commander of Cut Nyak Dien warship and Capt. Mulyana Gultom.

However, women in the Armed Forces in general are still often overlooked for frontline combat posts. (rms)