Jakarta – Women in uniform showed off their prowess in riding motorcycles hands free to the cheers of spectators at National Monument (Monas) Park on Friday.
Around 2,500 women from the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police and university regiments were holding a rehearsal in advance of a joint ceremony to commemorate Kartini Day on April 22.
"The joint ceremony this year is being handled by the navy. We regularly hold this kind of activity, but among TNI women only. This year is different. We have gathered with polwan [policewomen] and women from the country's other forces, too.
"It's been 10 years since we last had a joint ceremony without the polwan," Navy Col. Nora Lelyana, the commanding officer of the Navy Women's Corps and the head of the event committee, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
"This ceremony is just the beginning. What is important is not the ceremony, but how we tell the government that they can rely on us, too – and not just as a secondary force. We are sure that we have the professional capabilities to be trusted."
It has been over a century since Kartini, a young Javanese noblewoman, broke a tradition and established a school for women, thus triggering the emancipation of women in what would become Indonesia.
In 1964, founding president Sukarno declared Kartini's birthday, April 21, as Kartini Day and proclaimed her a National Hero. The struggle, however, continues until today, as women still have to struggle for their freedom, autonomy and equality under the law.
Nora said that the movement that Kartini started has inspired women to expand their roles in many aspects of life. "For example, what TNI women do today in military operations offers good proof that women can be the main players, too," Nora said.
Brig. Efi Nurjaman of the Jakarta Police Motor Brigade agreed. "Kartini is an inspiring figure. She is a hero. If not for her efforts, we women in Indonesia would not be equal as now," adding that many important positions in the National Police were currently held by women.
Efi and 17 of her colleagues will be a part of a big motorcycle show on Monday. "We have practiced for two weeks and we are proud that the rehearsals went well," she said.
"I've just received instructions to add more forces for the final celebration on Monday. It is going to be very crowded and people are welcome to come and see the ceremony," she said.
The women will entertain the public with the Haka-haka war dance and demonstrations of Army self-defense techniques, as well as music performances. (hrl)