Noted award means struggle goes on: Dita

JAKARTA (JP): Dita Indah Sari, a noted woman activist who is the one of the recipients of the 2001 Ramon Magsaysay Award, said here on Monday that winning the award would encourage her to continue her fight for the basic rights of workers.

"For me the award constitutes international recognition for what I've done in the labor movement, which hasn't been properly addressed in Indonesia. It encourages me to continue our struggle," Dita told The Jakarta Post.

Dita, 29, who according to the award organizers was honored for being at the forefront of the struggle against labor abuses in Indonesia, will share the US$50,000 award with Oung Chanthol, 34, who was honored for her work in opposing crimes against women in Cambodia.

Scheduled to fly to the Philippines to receive the award late this month, Dita will join other Indonesian recipients of the award, who include Mochtar Lubis (journalist), Pramoedya Ananta Toer (writer), Abdurrahman Wahid (democratic activist) and Atmakusumah Astraatmadja (journalist).

Dita, the chairperson of the National Front for the Struggle of Indonesian Workers (FNPBI), was jailed by former president Soeharto's regime in the East Java's town of Malang in 1997 and Banten's town of Tangerang in 1999 on subversion charges of inciting workers. FNPBI has 14 provincial branches with some 22,000 members.

She has also been arrested several times by police while leading labor protests.

Democratic and human rights activists held a party in Jakarta on Monday night to honor Dita before her departure to the Philippines to receive the award. Former president Abdurrahman Wahid was among those to be invited to the event.

Dita said prisons have helped her become a tougher labor activist as from there she gained many valuable experiences. "We should not be weak because if we are we just give room for dictatorship to grow," said Dita, whose Magsaysay Award will be classified in the 'emergent leadership' category.

Dita, who frequently comes to her office in a bajaj (a three- wheeled vehicle), was born in Medan, North Sumatra, on Dec. 30, 1972. She was elected as FNPBI chairwoman at the organization's second congress in July last year.

She is also one of the founders of the Democratic People's Party (PRD), led by her friend Budiman Sudjatmiko.

Speaking about her political views, she said that workers could become a potential constituent as they consist of people who can easily be organized.

She expressed pessimism over President Megawati Soekarnoputri government's ability to enhance the process of democratization because she rose to the presidency with the support of both the military and figures from Soeharto's New Order government.

"Therefore, Megawati will be forced to compromise with the military, who have been notorious for committing human rights abuses in the past," she added. (02)