Women enter politics through connections

SURABAYA (JP): Indonesian women enter politics through connection rather than merit, observers agreed in a discussion here Thursday.

Political positions were given as gifts to women, and they were recruited through nepotistic channels, concluded the discussion featuring the former minister of home affairs Rudini, legislator Khofifah Indar Parawansa and political scientist Retno T. Johan.

The speakers also agreed that the practice would in the end harm not only the dignity of Indonesian women, but also the country's effort to empower its people.

Titled "Women in Indonesian Politics" and organized by the August 17 University, the seminar was held only two days after influential Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid declared it was now time for Indonesia to discuss the possibility of Indonesia having a female president. About 200 students attended the discussion.

Rudini said the current recruitment of women into politics in Indonesia reflected the country's political system.

The process would be ideal if it conducted "bottom-up" recruitment and was oriented toward the interests of the people, he said.

"In reality, however, the process of recruitment (of female politicians) is colored with nepotism. Many female members of the House of Representatives and People's Consultative Assembly are elected because they are the daughters, wives or relatives of some politicians," he said.

Retno added that a survey conducted on East Javanese women who were members of the House, City Council, and regency council showed that 40 percent of their husbands belonged to the Armed Forces.

Thirty-seven percent of them were wives of civil servants, 10 percent wives of businessmen, 10 percent wives of private-sector workers, and only 3 percent wives of farmers, Retno said.

She said she doubted the appointment was proof of the women's achievement or years of hard work. The political positions were more of a gift because of their husbands' positions in the Armed Forces or bureaucracy.

However, she said none of the women surveyed had entered politics because of financial motivation.

"Women have a strong ability to emphatize (something which is good) in politics which is full of intrigue and power struggles. Women politicians are expected to bring a breath of fresh air to all," she said.

Khofifah, on the other hand, said the country's patriarchal culture was the main hindrance to women wanting to enter politics.

She also blamed bureaucracy and the country's unfair and undemocratic system of recruitment, which she said "structurally" hampered women from entering politics in this country. (nur/aan)