Detik.com - March 8,
2010
Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta
– Scores of women activists in the East Java city of Yogyakarta commemorated
International Women's Day on Monday March 8 by calling for equality and freedom
for Indonesian women.
The peaceful action, which
was initiated by the Perempuan Mahardhika (Free Women) National Network (JNPM),
began at the Yogyakarta monument intersection at 10am. The protesters, the
majority of which were women, wore red head bands with the writing
"Equality and Freedom".
The demonstrators also
brought a number of posters with messages such as "Reject Polygamy",
"Reject the Anti-Pornography Law", "Reject Discrimination
against Women" and "Fight for Women's Representation". A banner
displayed at the front of the rally read "100 Years of the Women's
Liberation Struggle".
In a speech action
coordinator Vivi Widyawati said that that currently there are still many
regulations that obstruct women's rights. These include the marriage law, the
anti-pornography law and a number of other regional bylaws. Moreover the
representation of women in the legislator is still minimal being less that 15
percent. "This is the time for Indonesian women to rise up and have the
courage to leave the home to work", she said.
The protesters also said
that in the educational and health sectors Indonesian women are still being
marginalised. Likewise in the workplace where many women receive an inadequate
wage. Yet their labour is exploited until nothing is left as a result of
capitalism. "We must fight for a decent wage and work safety guarantees in
order to be equal", shouted Widyawati.
As well as shouting slogans
of the women's struggle, the demonstrators also called for the pro-capitalist
administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President
Boediono to be replaced and for the people to abandon the rotten political
elite and fake reformists.
After demonstrating at the
Yogyakarta monument for some 45 minutes, the protesters then held a long-march
through the Malioboro area of Central Yogyakarta that ended at the Yogyakarta
central post office.
The peaceful action did not
attract a large escort by police who concentrated on directing the flow of
traffic in order that the march not create traffic problems. (bgs/djo)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
