New members in women's commission

JAKARTA: The National Commission on Violence Against Women has selected eight new members for the 2003-2006 term.

Kamala Chandrakirana, Nafsiah Mboi, Sjamsiah Achmad, Fransisca Eri Seda, Deliana Sayuti, Lilly D. Purba, Rachmawati Husein and Irawati Harsono were selected during a plenary session on June 2, which involved an independent team.

According to the commission's statute, the 17-strong commission maintains nine of its members for the subsequent term in order to maintain the continuity of its programs.

The commission is an independent organization that advocates the protection of women from violence. It was established in 1998 in the wake of the May riots, during which hundreds of Chinese- Indonesian women were raped. -- JP