Denpasar – “Women united can never be defeated, the women’s movement cannot be stopped”.
This was what was shouted by protesters in the Bali Women’s March under the hash tag #lawanbersama (Fighting Together) during a rally on Car Free Day in the Balinese provincial capital of Denpasar on Sunday morning March 4.
Before starting the action, the protesters gathered at the Renon Square eastern parking area at around 7am. After all the participants had arrived, they began the action with a long-march around the Renon Puputan Square.
Carrying banners and posters they shouted demands related to women’s rights and gender equality. They also highlighted the problems with the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) which they said would make the public venerable to criminalisation.
This issue was also reflected in posters which read, “The RKUHP is wreaking havoc”, “Keeping silent will not protect you”, “#akujuga (me too), “#meToo”, “#STOPpelecehan (STOP sexual harassment)” and “#tolakRKHUPngawut (Reject the reckless RKUHP)”.
In addition to this, they also brought posters demanding women’s rights and gender equality reading: “Don’t make your wife a domestic servant”, “Women need to go to school, not get married”, “It’s not my clothing that’s pornographic, but your brain” and “It’s crazy right, my crutch has become a state affair”.
After holding the long-march, they held speeches at the Say Anything Free Speech Podium (PB3AS). (*)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “RKHUP’ Ngae Benyah, Begini Aksi Women’s March Tuntut Hak Perempuan di Car Free Day Renon.]
