Women seeking greater future role

JAKARTA (JP): A national women's organization long considered close to the government is pouncing on opportunities from the reform movement to establish a more significant role for itself in society.

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Congress of Women (Kowani), Enny Busiri, said the issue of retaining the First Lady as the organization's main patron would be among subjects for discussion at its 21st congress which opened on Monday.

Enny and her colleagues of the 70-year-old organization also said they would strive for greater democracy in the election of organization leaders. They acknowledged government intervention in the past.

Members will discuss other possible changes to anticipate developments in the next five years, amid political uncertainty ahead of this year's general election.

"Strategies to empower women should continue, but we will have to focus more on programs directly related to people's needs," she told The Jakarta Post, such as preventing student dropouts.

She stressed the organization should now exert "social control" over government policies.

Enny said, "In the past we were subject to the (limits) of the system," which included lack of transparency.

Enny reported on the accountability of Kowani leadership to the forum on the second day of the congress. Its 343 participants include representatives of 73 affiliated organizations, among them units of the Civil Servants Wives Organization (Dharma Wanita) and social and religious groups.

Opened by patron Hasri Ainun Habibie on Monday, the congress will close on Thursday. (anr)