Aceh Kita - March 8, 2006

Radzie, Banda Aceh — Acehnese women are asking to
be involved in the process of public policy making
in Aceh. In addition to this they are also calling
for the enforcement of Islamic law not just be for
women but for crimes such as corruption.

These were the main issues voiced by Acehnese women
during the commemoration of International Women’s
Day at the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD)
on Wednesday March 8.

The lack of women’s involvement in determining
policies can be seen from the quotas in the Aceh-
Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction 2005 budget
where only 0.83 percent of funds are budgeted for
women and children’s empowerment posts. This is
despite the fact that the budget totals as much as 3
trillion rupiah.

“A policy will not have any significant influence
when it does not accommodate important points
related to the social and political rights of
women”, they said in a statement. “To the policy
makers, apply ideas of gender sensitivity and
support women’s interests in the decision making
process”.

They also asked the government to provide the
broadest possible access to the public, particularly
women, of information in order to understand the
government programs and budgets in all areas of
development.

During the action that was joined by thousands of
women, they brought banners and posters with
messages opposing violence, oppression and
harassment against women. The action began in front
of the Great Baiturrahman Mosque followed by a march
to the DPRD. They also shouted slogans such as “Viva
Women”, “Women unite for Acehnese peace” and the
like.

Raihana Diani, the coordinator of the Women’s
Organisation for Aceh Democracy (Orpad), said that
the government’s attention to women’s issues in Aceh
is extremely inadequate, including in the Draft Law
on a Government for Aceh (RUU PA). However,
“Comrades have been fighting to improve the RUU PA
so it support improvements to women’s lives”, said
Diani in a speech. “If conditions for women are
good, thus Aceh will also be good”.

According to Diani, women’s issues in Aceh at the
moment are complex. For example, the application of
Islamic law in Aceh severely discriminates against
women. “Islamic law has ostracised women in Aceh”,
said Diani, to the applause of participants.

In a statement read out before M Gade Salam (a
member of the Aceh DPRD who met with demonstrators),
Acehnese women asked that Islamic law in Aceh be
implemented fairly and be valid for all components
without exception. “It must also be punishment for
corrupters as violators of Islamic law”, they wrote
in the statement.

In addition to this they also asked for a
standardisation of Muslim clothing that is in
accordance with and is socialised to the public so
that violations do not occur against women and that
the Wilayatul Hisbah (Islamic police) be made up of
trusted, credible people with high moral standards
that carrying out their duties in accordance with
Islamic law. [dzie]

[Translated by James Balowski.]

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