No obligation to field women: Amien

No obligation to field women: Amien

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Amien Rais urged
women on Friday to work hard to achieve 30 percent representation
in the House of Representatives, saying the new election bill
would not automatically give them seats.

Amien said provisions in the bill opened the door for greater
female representation in the House but did not automatically mean
political parties had to comply with it.

Article 65 of the bill stipulates that political parties can
propose legislative candidates with regards to female
representation of at least 30 percent.

"The word 'can' is very tricky. It means that you may or you
may not. It might be a slippery tactic of the male activists in
the House," Amien said during a two-day seminar titled "Women and
Democratic Political Process" organized by Aisyiyah,
Muhammadiyah's women's wing, in Yogyakarta on Friday.

Amien called on Indonesian women not to be complacent with the
newly-endorsed election bill as women would still be required to
fight for their seats.

"We have to thank God because the legislative, executive and
judiciary institutions are now open to women. But the realization
depends on the political parties," Amien said.

Aisyiyah chairwoman Chamamah Soeratno urged women to start
working to realize adequate female representation.

"We have to start it right now. We cannot delay it," said
Chamamah, adding Aisyiyah's aim in holding the seminar was an
initial step towards responding to the bill.

"Starting from now, we have to actively collect data on who
among the women we know are suitable for the positions. Then we
inform the public. That's what the Aisyiyah executive board is
going to do after finishing the meeting here."

Some 200 participants from a number of women's organizations
in Indonesia attended the seminar.

Aisyiyah executive Chusnul Mar'iyah said the seminar was
intended as an effort to enlighten women.

"Aisyiyah organized the seminar not because it will establish
a political party. No. We are preparing cadres and strategies for
the 2004 elections. And this is very important for Indonesian
women, especially because it is attended by participants from
throughout the country," Chusnul said.