Women's participation

It is common when flying on an airplane to be greeted and served by beautiful and affectionate female flight attendants. But it is extraordinary if the plane is flown by a woman pilot. This month, for the first time in my life, I traveled on an airplane flown by a woman pilot.

It was Vietnam Airlines and the name of the captain was Anne- Marie Louis, who very nicely flew the aircraft. Vietnam Airlines, which has operated since April 1993, has transformed itself from a small, relatively inexperienced airline using former Soviet Block aircraft into the proud owner of a modern fleet of Airbus and Boeing planes flown by highly trained professionals, including Anne-Marie Louis.

Though still infrequent, the involvement of women in male- dominated occupations such as pilot, like Anne-Marie Louis, proves how able women are to perform dangerous and risky work. Their achievements help improve the state of women around the world.

On the occasion of Mother's Day in Indonesia on Dec. 22, it is hoped that more and more women will be allowed to perform their best in whatever work they choose. Besides having a great and dignified role as mothers, women can become a major force for a better society.

It is said that there can be no true people's participation in governance and development without the equal participation of women and men in all spheres of life and at all levels of decision making.

LYNDA K. WARDHANI, Jakarta