Slamet Susanto and Apriadi Gunawan, Yogyakarta/Medan – Demonstrators in cities across the Indonesia staged rallies on Wednesday to commemorate National Women's Day, demanding protection from "capitalism slavery" and materialism.
A rally in Yogyakarta was joined by children and students affiliated with the Women's Freedom Alliance who began marching along Jl. Malioboro on Wednesday morning.
The demonstrators shouted slogans opposing violence directed at women and polygamy and demanded the revocation of several laws that disadvantaged women. Hundreds of housewives under the banner of Muslimah Hizbut Tahrir held a second rally on Jl. Malioboro denouncing capitalism.
"Leave behind capitalism, which has been proven to make women poorer," rally coordinator Ainur Rochmah told the crowd.
Ainur blamed capitalism in Indonesia for making people poorer and creating a wide social gap. "Despite the rich natural resources, they have been sold to capitalists. Capitalism system sees women as a commodity and worthy of being consumed for the sake of material pursuits," Ainur said.
She added women who should be taking care of families have instead been made into cash cows as domestic maids overseas.
The gender equality movement was also blamed for motivating women to follow material pursuits and forget their obligations to educate the next generation.
"Where will our country go if many of our youths are exposed to drugs and 50 percent of the girls are no longer virgin. This is due to poverty created by capitalism which forces women to become materialistic," she said.
Muslimah Hizbut Tahrir also demanded the implementation of Islamic sharia law, adding that Indonesia's overflowing resources would no longer be sold to overseas parties if the system was enforced.
"[Sharia] is the only system that creates prosperity and justice, as well as frees people from the throes of poverty," Ainur said.
Hundreds of students later took part in a poetry contest honoring mothers aimed at instilling respect for women's struggles in raising families.
Muslimah Hizbut Tahrir's branch in Medan, North Sumatra, also staged a rally, urging the government to pay attention to people's welfare and protect women from violence.
Demonstrators clogged traffic as they marched from Merdeka Square to Majestik Circle on Jl. Gatot Subroto.
Rally coordinator Fitri said she wanted to use momentum from National Women's Day to raise women's spirits in the fight against capitalism. According to Fitri, capitalism has transformed women into machines who produce revenue for the state, thus making them slaves of capitalism.
"Many of the women in Indonesia have currently become slaves of capitalism due to the declining quality of life for housewives," Fitri told protestors at Majestik Circle.