Replacement for Sri Redjeki must be woman

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Women activists urged the Golkar party on Wednesday to give the seat at the House of Representatives left vacant by Sri Redjeki Soemaryoto, the incumbent state minister of woman's empowerment, to a woman candidate to ensure adequate representation at the House.

The Indonesian Women's Political Caucus (KPPI) and the Central Electoral Reform (CETRO) made the statement in response to the recent decision by Golkar's Lampung chapter to propose its chairman, Henri Utama, to replace Sri Redjeki.

Sri Redjeki left her post at the House after she was appointed as state minister of women's empowerment in President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Cabinet.

Prior to her appointment, the caucus said, Sri Redjeki had made an agreement with Rinie Amaluddin, a woman legislative council member from Lampung to replace her.

"We regret the decision which does not take into account womens' interests. As a majority which is always marginalized in the political process, women have the right to be adequately represented in the legislative body," Miranti Abidin, the caucus' chairwoman, told a media briefing on Wednesday.

"We demand that Golkar's Lampung chapter revoke its decision and give the right to a woman candidate," Miranti said.

Women legislators currently account for only 9 percent of the 455 legislators. To ensure women's political rights, women activists have been struggling to increase the quota to 20 percent in the legislative body.

Smita Notosusanto, the executive director of CETRO, said that every outgoing woman legislator should be replaced by a woman to ensure their representation.

"We don't ask for shares. This is our right. We are just asking for our right. It should be considered from an unbiased perspective. For women, quality is not enough to make our voice heard," Smita said.

The activists asserted that Rini Amaluddin was the ideal candidate to replace Sri Redjeki because she comes from the same province, is a woman, and has the makings of being a quality legislator.

They also urged Sri Redjeki in her capacity as women's empowerment minister to help address the issue as it deals with the improvement of women's welfare in the country.

Meanwhile, Juniwati M. Sofwan, head of the women's empowerment division in Golkar party, said that the issue of women's representation had faced a setback.

"Despite our demand that justice be upheld, women's issues are sill neglected. This is hypocrisy," Juniwati said.