Protesters march for Women's Day

JAKARTA: Around 500 protesters from three different organizations staged a simultaneous rally to commemorate International Women's Day, which fell on Mar. 8.

During the protest, the groups conveyed their different demands.

The protesters -- comprising the Indonesian Women Leader's Trade Union Forum (IWLTUF), the Front for the Struggle of the Poor (FPRM) and the Islamic Students of Statistics Institutes -- marched from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the State Palace in Central Jakarta.

IWLTUF coordinator, Ester S. Tuange, said they were demanding equal treatment for women and equal opportunities in the labor market. She said companies must not practice wage discrimination as between men and women, and must eliminate the exploitation of women.

The Islamic students demanded the right and freedom for women to wear headscarves and perform their religious obligations on campus.

Neanwhile, the FPRM's spokesperson, Fifi, revealed that her group were making general demands instead of demands related to women's issues only. These included a 100 percent increase in the regional minimum wage, reinstituting public health subsidies and greater employment opportunities. -- JP