Underrepresentation of women upsets Mien

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi says she is upset that Golkar, the ruling political group, is nominating fewer women for next year's general election than expected.

"We were promised a quota of 17 percent in the legislative branch. Now it seems that we're only getting 14 percent," Mien was quoted by Antara as saying on Thursday.

Mien -- who remains an influential figure in MKGR, one of the three powerful mass organizations within Golkar -- met on Thursday with the 20 women legislators who currently represent the Golkar faction in the House.

Of the 20, only one has been renominated on the provisional list of Golkar candidates, the news agency said without naming the legislator.

"I'm very concerned about why many good women legislators are not going to represent the people again in the next period (1997- 2002)," Mien said.

She added that she would raise the issue with Golkar's central executive board and fight for at least a 15-percent ratio.

The list of candidates is said to be in the hands of President Soeharto, in his capacity as Golkar's chief patron, for final approval.

Golkar and the other two election contestants, the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party, are expected to submit their final lists to the General Election Institute on Monday.

Golkar chairman Harmoko promised earlier that 17 percent of Golkar candidates would be women and 40 percent selected from the young generation.

"There are many Indonesian women who are just as capable and qualified as men (to serve in the House)," Mien said.

She acknowledged that women in Indonesia still do not have adequate access to education because of the prevailing social and cultural attitudes and values that put men first.

"But let's not forget that come election time, women will account for more than half of all voters. So, why give them a tiny portion in the legislative branch?"

The meeting was also used for "self-introspection", with one legislator admitting that Indonesian women have not been assertive or vocal enough.

That includes the women in the House, Hartini was quoted as saying by Antara.

"The obstacle sometimes comes from the women themselves because they don't have the courage to speak up and express views or ideas," Hartini said.

The fact that there are so few women in the legislative branch should be seen as a challenge to improve the situation in the future, she said. (emb)