Women as pillars of the state
Women as pillars of the state
From Republika
Women's Day in December was marked by deep concern. In the past year, as the economic condition worsened, there were many cases involving women, such as the torture of migrant women workers abroad, their murder and rape and also the selling of young girls. Print and electronic media carried many reports on the cases.
Although the causes of the incidents are many, a major factor must be the worsening economic condition of the country. Other causes include mismanagement of human resources and social conditions unconducive to security, among many others.
Take the report aired by private television station RCTI on Dec. 21, 1998, in its Nuansa Pagi (Morning Nuances) program. According to this report, no fewer than 80 young girls hailing from West Java were sold to entertainment centers in Batam and subsequently forced into prostitution. All were duped by promises of decent work and good wages. Unfortunately, they have been thrown into an abyss of misery. In addition to poor food and health conditions, they have also incurred debts, the amount of which increases each day.
Most hurtful is they were sold to brokers at a price ranging from Rp 150,000 to Rp 200,000 each, and the brokers subsequently sold them to pimps for prices ranging from Rp 1.5 million to Rp 2 million each. Worst of all is that the people conducting this sex trade were their fellow citizens. We can see which group is behind all this and who "uses" them.
Cases like these were formerly difficult to uncover although the public knew they were going on. We must ask why the incidents continue to happen and why those responsible are undaunted. It points to flaws in our legal system.
If you see who is behind these transactions of young girls, you may agree that the matters may trigger interethnic riots, especially as our social condition is vulnerable to provocation concerning ethnicity, religion, racial background and social groups. Let's restrain ourselves and prevent the condition from getting worse. Just imagine if any of your family members -- daughters, sisters, wife, for example, happens to be involved in such cases. What would you do? It is better for us, then, to reflect upon ourselves before doing something. What if these tragedies befell us?
As for women, particularly mothers, they should be aware that women are the pillar of the state. Our hopes hang on women's shoulders. Mothers must make sure that their children, daughters especially, learn the right thing about social ethics, dress and behavior. Do not let anybody degrade the dignity of women and never let anybody make women mere objects.
It is true that life is getting harder and that there is no knowing when the economic crisis will end. However, we must regard this as an ordeal that we have to endure. Obviously, this Ramadhan fasting month is a good period for us to fortify ourselves and make ourselves immune to material temptations and other negative mundane and carnal desires.
EVAN AGUSTIANTO S
Bandung