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)