Eva Safitri, Jakarta – Women activists from a number of different organisations commemorated International Women’s Day (IWD) with demands for equality and opposing discrimination, violence, intolerance and poverty.
The protesters began gathering in front of the entrance to the House of Representatives (DPR) on Jl. Gelora Bung Karno in Central Jakarta on Thursday March 8 at around 11.30am.
Participants included women factory workers, representatives of the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) and other women’s organisations.
During the action they criticised the draft revisions to the Criminal Code (RUU KUHP) related to restrictions on the freedom of association. They also called on the government to revoke various policies and regulations that discriminate against women.
“We are critical of the RUU KUHP, several article of which we think discriminate against women, we are also critical of the UU MD3 [recently enacted Legislative Institutions Law], the women here are also concerned about democracy which is being progressively muzzled, when every day there are more regulations that restrict freedom”, said Prilli, a representative from the LBH.
“Viva equality! Abolish the UU MD3! The Draft KUHP is reckless and haphazard! The state just wants to protect corruptors, reject the RUU KUHP now”, said one of the action coordinators during the rally.
The protesters could be seen enthusiastically joining the speaker’s remarks who continued to slam the UU KUHP.
The protest action at the parliament, which was called the “Women’s Parade of Struggle”, will be continued at the State Palace in Central Jakarta. They will also join other protesters who are holding an action in front of the State Palace.
A section of the protesters could be seen preparing to get onto their vehicle to head off to the State Palace. “We are expecting some 700 people to join together at the State Palace”, said Prilli. (ams/ams)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was Demo di DPR, Massa Tuntut Kesetaraan dan Tolak Diskriminasi Perempuan.]
