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