Jakarta – Senjata Kartini (Sekar), a women’s non-government organisation, is opposed to presidential candidates from military circles. According to Sekar, electing a presidential candidate from military circles will return women in Indonesia to [the kind of] oppression [they experienced in the past] because of the tendency to use a military approach in implementing presidential decisions. This approach has been repeatedly proven to cause women and children to be victimised.
Nuraini from Sekar made these remarks in a press conference at the offices of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) on Friday April 23 in Jakarta. In conjunction with the press conference, another organisation, the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) held a similar action. The PRD pleaded with voters in the July 5 presidential elections not to give an opening for the reemergence of the military in a civilian government.
In a statement read by Nuraini, she called on presidential candidates [former armed forces chief] Wiranto and [recently resigned coordinating minister for politics and security] Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take responsibility for the Trisakti, Semanggi I and II tragedies1, the May 1998 riots in Jakarta and martial law in Aceh. “Bringing martial law into force in Aceh has resulted in thousands of [women] becoming widows. Since martial law [was declared on May 19], the elite has [frequently] used sexual violence against women”.
Sekar warned people not go give an opening to the anti-democratic forces to lead the nation. “The women’s movement has the duty get its act together. If it doesn’t, [the government] will be even freer to enact policies which discriminate against women”, said Nuraini.
Meanwhile, PRD general chairperson Yusuf Lakaseng acknowledged that the reemergence if the military which has been marked by the emergence of a number of retired generals [as presidential candidates] is a result of the weakness and divisions among non-government organisations, the student movement and other pro-democracy groups. “All of this has provided an opportunity for the return of the old forces, both military and civilian, [forces that are] none other than the fake reformists and the New Order [regime of former President Suharto]”, he said. “All elements [of the movement] must unite”. (WIN)
Notes:
1. On May 12, 1998, security personnel shot into a crowd of student protesters from the Trisakti University near their campus in West Jakarta, killing four students and injuring several. This proved to be the spark which set-off three days of mass demonstrations and rioting in Jakarta which eventually lead to the overthrow of former President Suharto. Similar incidents occurred on in November 1998 and September 1999 when troops opened fire on demonstrators from the Atmajaya University in Jakarta using rubber bullets and live ammunition in the area of Semanggi, South Jakarta, resulting in the death of dozens of student demonstrators.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
