Budi Hartadi, Surabaya – International Women’s Day (IWD) was also commemorated in Surabaya, East Java. Around 100 students from the Poor People’s Front for Struggle demonstrated in front of the governor’s offices at the Grahadi State Building on Jalan Gubernur Suryo on Monday March 8.

During the action, they called on the people to unite to condemn the government because of its failure to provide prosperity and security for mothers and children. They also said the 2004 general elections would not overcome the oppression of women.

The spokesperson for the action, Rudi Asiko, stated that in commemorating IWD, it was hoped that women will rise up to resist liberalism, militarism and feudalism, because the [neo-]liberal policies of the government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Vice-President Hamzah Haz are hurting women severely.

“The 2004 general elections are just an arena for the political parties who have hurt women to consolidate themselves”, said Asiko.

Demonstrators also brought a number of posters which read “Women unite to destroy militarism”, “If Mega-Akbar [Tanjung] unite, Indonesia will be destroyed”, “Reject marshal law which oppresses women in Aceh”.

As of 1.30pm the demonstrations was still continuing in an orderly manner but was causing traffic congestion. (nrl)

[Translated by James Balowski.]