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.]