Luh De Suriyani, Denpasar – Female legislative candidates from various political parties have vowed to fill 10 percent of Bali provincial and regional legislative seats at the next election.
Speaking at a recent debate, organized jointly by Denpasar chapter of the Independence Journalist Alliance, SIGI Indonesia and International Republican Institute, a woman activist Riniti Rahayu said that the legislative bodies are still male-dominated domains.
Rahayu from Bali Sruti, said that the result from the 2004 election was so discouraging.
Women candidates only filled 18 or 4.5 percent out of the total 385 legislative seats. "Women's coalition currently feel very optimistic to achieve between 10 and 14 percent of legislative seats during this year's election," Rahayu said.
She said that most of women candidates were quite shock and amazed with the Constitutional Court's ruling which dropped the 30 percent requirements of women in legislative bodies.
In so many ways, women candidates were lagged behind their male counterparts. Citing an example, in terms of campaign funding, access to media and public and more importantly access to their constituents and the public in general.
According to a study conducted by Bali Sruti, a woman candidate mostly spends only between Rp 20 million and Rp 50 million for the campaign activities.
Utami Suryadi, a candidate from the Democratic Party said the majority of female candidates focus on issues like social welfares, children, health, education, workers's rights showing that they are more social-conscious.
Meanwhile, Dewa Ayu Sri Wigunati, a candidate from the Golkar Party, confirmed that women's involvement in the political stage is not a "gift." Women, she said, have to work extra hard to set their feet on the political arena.
Putu Wirata Dwikora from Bali Corruption Watch reminded women candidates to set up concrete programs for the community. "If they (women candidates) are not elected, they have to continue working for the people outside the parliament," he said.
Other candidate A.A. Putri Astrid Kartika has called on voters to support them. "Voters should not hesitate to vote for women," she said.