Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Women should be more actively involved in politics and should utilize their right to vote in July's presidential election, the state minister for women's empowerment said on Thursday.

Meuthia Hatta, who is also chairwoman of the Indonesia Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), said women must use politics to channel their aspirations.

"Women must encourage other citizens to vote in the elections because we should make use of our political rights," Meuthia said during a seminar held in Jakarta on politics and women.

"Every woman must check whether or not she is registered as a voter," she said, referring to the voters list for the July 8 presidential election.

Three other female political party leaders attended the discussion – Kartini Sjahrir, chairwoman of the New Indonesia Party of Struggle (PPIB), the Pioneer Party's Rachmawati Sukarnoputri and Amelia Yani, chairwoman of the National People's Concern Party (PPRN).

Kartini said that for too long, Indonesian women had believed that politics were the sole domain of men and that they had no right to be involved. "And now all of us are evidence of how Indonesian woman have the same rights as men in politics," she said.

The four politicians also called on the country's political parties to work for a peaceful and fair presidential election.

Amelia Yani said that Indonesians had experienced much conflict since gaining independence in 1945, which had resulted in animosity between the country's political figures.

Amelia, whose father, Gen. Ahmad Yani, was killed during the 1965 coup attempt blamed on the Communists, said it was important for people to work together to build the nation. "I have traveled to almost all of our country and found that everyone needs peace," she said.

Rachmawati urged all politicians to remain civil during the campaign for the presidential election, which starts on May 29. "People do not want to see political figures attacking each other," she said.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Golkar's chairman and the party's presidential candidate, has attacked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on a number of occasions. Kalla has said that the president's political vehicle, the Democratic Party, has acted as a buffer for the government's unpopular policies, with Yudhoyono reaping the rewards.

Kalla is running with Wiranto, a retired Army general, while Yudhoyono has tapped former Bank Indonesia Governor Boediono as his running mate. Former President Megawati Sukarnoputri and her running mate, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prawobo Subianto, round out the race.