Women show awareness of need of vote
Women show awareness of need of vote
JAKARTA (JP): A barrage of advertisements have emphasized the
right of women to make their own decision in Monday's elections.
Some ads have attempted to raise women's awareness of the need to
vote for parties which focus on improving conditions for women.
What do women themselves say? The following are excerpts from
interviews with women from cities across the country with The
Jakarta Post correspondents Asip Agus Hasani, Yusril Ardanis and
Agus Maryono:
Ratna, 18-year-old high school graduate from Pati, Central Java:
"My parents are civil servants (who used to be obliged to vote
for Golkar) but I will choose whatever party I want. June 7 will
be the first time I'll vote. I'm still confused about which party
to vote for. I've been seeking information about the parties from
friends, my parents, television and newspapers. I don't like the
television campaigns, but I do get a lot of information on
parties (from them), although they won't influence my choice
much. I'm considering between the National Awakening Party (PKB)
and the National Mandate Party (PAN) because they're among the
largest parties. I might not choose the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) because it's not a Muslim
party. (PAN and PKB rely on Muslims' votes, although they assert
they are inclusive).
The leaders (of PKB and PAN), Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid) and
Amien Rais, are very popular here, especially Gus Dur. Maybe I am
influenced by friends and neighbors. Both party's programs also
claim to offer a change for the better.
For me, the important change we need regards more access to
education. I'm not from a rich family. And we need better
teachers. I hate math because the teacher can't teach it.
Now I want to enter Gadjah Mada University, but I don't feel I
can make it, which is why I'm attending a course which my parents
have to pay extra for."
Kamsiah, 56, vegetable vendor at Padang market, West Sumatra:
"I'll vote for PAN. I once voted for the United Development Party
(PPP), but Golkar won. The last time I was sure PPP would win but
it lost. So I'll choose PAN because ... Amien Rais is a leader
from Muhammadiyah (a Muslim organization) and he often makes
speeches on television. I also like the People's Sovereignty
Party (PDR) because yesterday a campaigner walked into the market
saying the party would fight for traders like me."
Nurbaiti, 30, housewife in Tunggul Hitam, Padang:
"So far, no party fights for women's rights. We housewives are
only confined to the well, the kitchen and the bedroom. I am a
university graduate, although only with a diploma degree. I've
looked for a job for years until I got married and had children.
Even though I have children, I hope that women like myself can
work to support the family. Which party can promise this? Maybe
PDI Perjuangan, because if Megawati became president, she might
fight for women."
Luzi Diamanda, 34, reporter with Suara Padang Radio:
"The election may not be free and fair because a number of
parties are clearly upholding the status quo. Fraud is evident,
especially in remote areas. I will not vote. I cannot see parties
ready with new concepts; just parties fighting for their own
interests."
Uswatun Hasanah, 23, student at Purwokerto Muslim School
(STAIN), Central Java: "I will vote for PKB. I hope the next
government will recover the trust of the international community
and that it will be more democratic. Then theater groups on
campus won't be prevented from performing. I also hope women's
political rights will be made equal to men. That's the
consequence of a democratic nation."
Mrs. Djalaluddin, 37, housewife in East Purwokerto: "I hope
things will be normal and safe again after the elections. I hope
prices come back to normal. There are so many parties, I'm
confused, but maybe I'll choose Golkar because my husband is a
civil servant and a physician. Elections used to be safe with
only three parties... now there are rallies every day and my car
once was scratched. I also hope women will be paid more attention
to after the polls. Look at the Purbalingga case (in which Golkar
supporters were harassed) when women were forced to remove their
(Golkar) clothing. This is harassment. I hope the new government
can act more strictly against such people."
Millatul Azisah, 28, housewife in Purwokerto Lor: "I hope
prices will come back to normal. All parties now are the same,
they just give promises. What's important is that the future
government creates enough jobs for women so that they don't have
to leave the country in droves to become migrant workers."