Women in Indonesia

Women in Indonesia

We all know what happened during the May riots: wild attacks
on banks, supermarkets and shops, followed by a brutal assault on
women. It is not important whether these victims were Chinese-
Indonesians, Arab-Indonesians or foreign women. The fact remains
that far more than 100 women were humiliated and tortured and the
government did nothing at all to stop it.

Non-governmental organizations have set up hotlines, medical
centers and psychiatric help for the victims. Meanwhile, the
government, which now claims to be reform-minded and human, has
yet to react with any apology or words of regret.

The government under Soeharto changed its way of thinking from
Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity) to a divide and rule
philosophy. This was clearly a strategy to keep a certain group
in power and it worked for 32 years. It is amazing that the
country's students, who were educated and brought up under this
system, developed a different way of thinking and had the courage
to act upon it.

It seems to be too optimistic to hope that our new government
will have the same courage. The members of the House of
Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly are
running moral risks: their career, their wealth, their names.
Changing your way of thinking takes a totally different mentality
and is an enormous risk. As a matter of fact, it could cost you
all the gains you have achieved in life.

Indonesian women, however, are in a different position. It is
in our nature to take risks. We deliver our children while
risking our lives. We raise our youngsters, offering our time and
freedom. We feed them even if we have to share our own food.
Women are the foundation of our nation and we should unite and
strive for human rights for all women. We are afraid to take
risks. We are already used to facing risks.

Moreover, women should learn to fight and demand equal rights
in our society.

We have the right to be protected. All women in Indonesia
should be guaranteed that Pancasila is not only a philosophy of
the rich, but a way of life for the people. Women of Indonesia,
close ranks and support each other! We simply have to take action
to protect ourselves and our daughters.

ROSINI NIMPOENO

Sawangan, West Java