Aceh Kita - March 8, 2007

Banda Aceh — Acehnese women from the Gender Working
Group (GWG) held a peaceful action to commemorate
International Women’s Day (IWD) on Thursday March 8.

The action was joined by hundreds of Acehnese women
and women activists. Transsexuals who are generally
employed as beauty salon workers also joined in
enlivening the action. “Transsexuals are also human
beings” read one of the placards that they brought.

The action proceeded on foot from the Great
Baiturrahman Mosque to Simpang Lima and ended at the
Regional House of Representatives Building, Banda
Aceh. “We are demanding to be more involved in the
process of Aceh’s reconstruction, rehabilitation and
reconciliation post the tsunami and conflict”, said
action coordinator Asrida Vonna.

According to the protesters, over the more than two
years that the process of reconstruction and
rehabilitation has proceeded in Aceh, the
involvement and participation of women has been far
from expectations. In the handling of post conflict
issues also, there has been almost no involvement of
Acehnese women. Meanwhile the reconstruction and
reconciliation process, which has involved many
parties, has yet to provide any significant progress
in the lives of women in Aceh.

GWG coordinator Lailisma Sofyati cited as an example
the many women living in barracks that are
discriminated against in decision making in their
immediate environment. In addition to this there is
inadequate attention paid to women who were victims
of violence during the period of the conflict.

The evidence. Acehnese women have not been directly
involved in decision making either at the Aceh
Reintegration Agency or the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
Aceh Transitional Committee. “Inong Balee (GAM women
fighters) are not included as a part of the TNA (GAM
soldiers) that has the right to reintegration
funds”, she said.

Sofyati related how data from the National Women’s
Commission recorded 191 case of violence against
women in refugees camps in Aceh between October 2005
to February 2006. The forms of violence were varied
such as domestic violence and sexual harassment.

In commemorating IWD, GWG Aceh is demanding that the
new Aceh government increase women’s involvement in
all forms of policy making in Aceh. They also called
on the new government to reevaluate the
understanding of and application of Islamic law that
is being used for discriminative practices of those
in power.

Don’t use violence

On the question of the application of Islamic law,
Aden, the Chairperson of the Association of
Transsexual Salon Workers (APSW), said that violence
should not be used to enforce the law and that they
are often treated unjustly by officials. “If there
is an operation don’t use violence, leave us to work
in peace, because this is how we earn a living”,
said Aden.

Aden confessed that officials often use violence
when they are raiding beauty salons that are
suspected of conducting activities that violate
Islamic Law. There have even been a number of beauty
salons that been closed down.

Furthermore, they are also demanding that there not
be a prohibition on transsexuals working in women’s
salons. “We are workers right, we don’t offend the
clients”, explained Aden. [Adw]

The INDOLEFT news service is produced by the
Institute of Liberation, Media and Social Studies
(LPMIS) and Action in Solidarity with Asia and the
Pacific.

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