Iman Herdiana, Bandung – International Women’s Day (IWD) was marked by a protest action by hundreds of workers from the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) in the city of Cimahi, West Java.

Wearing red T-shirts and taking up the theme “There is no women’s liberation without the liberation of the people”, the demonstrators besieged the Gedung Sate building government offices on Jl. Diponegoro demanding the liberation of women from all forms of oppression.

KASBI action coordinator Srinarti said that although women have commemorated IWD for 100 years, women still face discriminative labour laws, low wages, sexual harassment, they are not given menstrual or pregnancy leave, face physical and verbal violence and are prohibited from forming unions.

“For 100 years we have commemorated this day, are women now liberated from oppression?” asked Srinarti during the action on Tuesday March 8.

Srinarti explained that the oppression of women occurred because of the oppressive economic system, so they are demanding an end to arbitrary dismissals, contract labour (outsourcing), decent wages, menstrual and maternity leave, an end to violence and discrimination and free education.

“It’s time for us to take the lead, SBY-Boediono [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono] have failed to bring prosperity to the people”, she asserted. (ton)

Source: Hari Perempuan se-Dunia: ‘Apakah Perempuan Sudah Bebas dari Penindasan?’ – Okezone. Selasa, 8 Maret 2011

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]