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Don't say it, just send it
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 10/10/2007 3:59 PM
Alfian, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The message is, send a message, for women in politics.
Using short message systems on cell phones, that is.
State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Farida Hatta Swasono said three groups had implemented the new SMS service to encourage the public to show their support for women in politics and to show the government some proof of that support.
The service was initiated by the Civil Society Alliance for Political Laws Revision (ANSIPOL), in cooperation with Indonesian Concerned Women (GPPI) and the State Ministry for Women's Empowerment.
Ani Soetjipto from (GPPI) said, ""The SMS service is a kind of pressure from the society to show to the House that the women's political participation is not only an elite issue"".
Ani said the launch of their campaign would include radio announcements, posters and newsletters and that SMS support for women in politics should be sent before November 27 to telephone number 9123.
""We'll take the messages to the House as evidence of public support for women's participation in politics,"" Ani said.
State Minister Meutia said, ""Women should not hesitate to enter politics and men should have no concerns welcoming women to politics"".
She said policies needed to accommodate women's voices in the legislation process at the House of Representatives must be discussed seriously.
The House was currently deliberating bills on elections, House structure, and political parties.
Women to secure a minimum 30 percent quota in the legislative body and political parties, Meutia said.
But artist and executive of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Rieke Diah Pitaloka said finding the right women for politics was more important than pursuing the minimum quota.
""I've worked hard for one-and-a-half years to gain votes for PKB in Surabaya and Sidoardjo,"" Rike said.
""But then I was transferred to Bogor, West Java, three months before the 2004 general elections -- and Bogor is not a stronghold of PKB, unlike Surabaya and Sidoarjo of East Java.""
Rike said political parties should only elect competent women as party executives and legislators, ""otherwise their presence will be useless"".
She said it was also important to ensure the public moved against ""money politics"".
""It has often happened that only women with strong financial support would get elected.""
The campaign would see flyers, postcards and posters distributed nationally.
Public announcements on radio stations in nine Indonesian cities would also be released.
