Women pray for end of violence
Women pray for end of violence
JAKARTA (JP): More than 100 women of different faiths came
together last night in a joint prayer to end years of violence in
the country.
Many Chinese-Indonesian women were among those who streamed
into the Nyai Ageng Serang women's building in Kuningan, South
Jakarta. Public figures including playwright Jajang C. Noer read
their poems. Another playwright, Ratna Sarumpaet, performed part
of her Marsinah Menggugat (Marsinah Accuses), a play on a
murdered labor activist. Top model Ratih Sanggarwati was MC.
Lights were switched off and candles distributed as prayers
representing all the country's major faiths were made.
Organizer and renowned lawyer Nursyahbani Katjasungkana said
the prayers were offered for "all victims of domestic and
political violence during the 32 years" of the New Order rule.
The congregation, she said, reflected "women's denouncement
of... the politics of violence which has so far been used by
rulers to silence... activists or to conquer individuals and
certain groups."
She added the gathering was mainly an attempt "to heal our
sorrow, pain and fear raised by violent acts," and specifically
to "return our trust, that the values and existence of democracy
which has been crushed in violent events, which peaked in the May
13 - May 15 riots, are still there and are still being struggled
for."
Several women's groups, including those supporting rape
victims in the riot, organized the prayer as part of a six-month
nationwide campaign called Kawulan Perempuan. "For women,
violence is a method we have never forgiven," Nursyahbani said.
(ste/anr)
JAKARTA (JP): More than 100 women of different faiths came
together last night in a joint prayer to end years of violence in
the country.
Many Chinese-Indonesian women were among those who streamed
into the Nyai Ageng Serang women's building in Kuningan, South
Jakarta. Public figures including playwright Jajang C. Noer read
their poems. Another playwright, Ratna Sarumpaet, performed part
of her Marsinah Menggugat (Marsinah Accuses), a play on a
murdered labor activist. Top model Ratih Sanggarwati was MC.
Lights were switched off and candles distributed as prayers
representing all the country's major faiths were made.
Organizer and renowned lawyer Nursyahbani Katjasungkana said
the prayers were offered for "all victims of domestic and
political violence during the 32 years" of the New Order rule.
The congregation, she said, reflected "women's denouncement
of... the politics of violence which has so far been used by
rulers to silence... activists or to conquer individuals and
certain groups."
She added the gathering was mainly an attempt "to heal our
sorrow, pain and fear raised by violent acts," and specifically
to "return our trust, that the values and existence of democracy
which has been crushed in violent events, which peaked in the May
13 - May 15 riots, are still there and are still being struggled
for."
Several women's groups, including those supporting rape
victims in the riot, organized the prayer as part of a six-month
nationwide campaign called Kawulan Perempuan. "For women,
violence is a method we have never forgiven," Nursyahbani said.
(ste/anr)