Thousands of Indonesian women still languish in Suharto's prisons (Tribune, 20 Mei 1975)

=== [PDF page 1] === Tribune (Sydney, NSW: 1939 - 1991), Tuesday 20 May 1975, page 7 Thousands Indonesian still women languish IN SUHARTO'S PRISONS Indonesian Women's Movement (GERWANI) was one the progressive organisations which suffered terrible repression after the military coup of The Thousands 100,000 of Indonesian political women prisoners (tapols) still the languish among and prisons Suharto's torture chambers. movement GERWANI formed the leftwing of the women's Communist and although not affiliated to the Indonesian itself (PKI), Party described organisation of "communist and non-communist women". had the bulk of its women and worker ranks, organised peasant numbering several hundred thousand. to struggle against polygamy and organised women clinics and crechesj forced marriages, setting up women's and around running infants' schools and educational courses rising such prices. economic demands as fighting was GERWANI seized After the generals power, liable for arrest or became immediately banned and members of the trade unions members dismissal from jobs. Women also (SOBSI) and the peasants' organisation (BTI) were persecuted. of the brunt of the propagandist GERWANI bore much depicted as an attack of the reactionary generals. It was Sensational reports organisation of sex-maniacs. prostitutes, become GERWANI forcing members ritual" and of girl organising "obscene sex-dancing and of the murdered "mutilating the sex members organs generals" appealed to prejudices of religious fanaticism and of leftists that undoubtedly contributed to the massacres million dead in 1965. a half and one resulted in between are Torture is widely practised against all tapols. Women torture Standard also subjected to this, plus sexual assault. includes electric shock, beatings, cigarette burns and being left dangling hours at a stretch. Women by the wrists for manv implements inserted violently into vaginas and vicious suckling babies. pummelling of breasts, even against women have Violent and repeated rape National Library of Australia are standard for women tapols. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236921364 === [PDF page 2] === Tribune (Sydney, NSW: 1939 - 1991), Tuesday 20 May 1975, page 7 (2) tapols held is unknown. of women The exact number Many are held in local village prisons and district capitals, as well as in the better known central prison camps. Women's Detention Camp in central Java has Plantungan 386 tapols. They are category B prisoners, officially who cannot be tried for lack of evidence, those described but who will not be released because they are considered "a threat to national security." Very few are still in contact with their families. The camp is remote, so family visits are rare, while money is needed for a must work on the land to obtain permit to visit. The women subsistence. Sri have been put on trial. One woman, Very few women of the women's department of Ambar, a leading member called as a witness against PKI political bureau in 1965. Sudisman member She protested her hearing had been impaired due to continued beatings. She lifted her batik wrap to reveal scars her thigh and buttock. She said she did not know and had been compelled under torture to sign a Sudisman The judge had no alternative but to dismiss her. document. SOBSI, was She is still under detention, and recently went on trial herself. political prisoners, held since 1966, are now Four women trial for their lives in Djakarta. Sudjinah They are Sulami, third secretary of GERWANI, and staff responsible for Education who was on GERWANI Culture, Sri Ambar Rukmiati, head of the SOBSI (trade union department and federation) women's formerly on the staff of the banned Suharti Harsano peasants' organise/iior (BTI) had no When the trial began on February 3, the women counsel to defend them. The court adjourned for a week to allow counsel to be appointed. indirect The four women of direct or accused are in the October involvement 1965 leftwing coup attempt, and after the generals' seizure of power to revive the PKI. working They are accused publishing underground acquiring false identity cards for themselves helping tapols' children. and newspaper, others and The wives and children of tens of thousands of tapols, have been under detention for ten years, often many of whom live in destitution. National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236921364 === [PDF page 3] === Tribune (Sydney, NSW: 1939 - 1991), Tuesday 20 May 1975, page 7 (3) Social services are non-existent. Getting a job, enrolling in schools, or moving new district certificate depend having the alleged leftwing coup of non-involvement prior to the generals' takeover. Wives and children of tapols do not get such certificates, unless they hide their identity or bribe an official. Tapols receive less than starvation food allowances, and depend on relatives' food parcels to live. Yet their families find it difficult to survive themselves and are subject to In addition, there are severe social continued harassment. Indonesia. pressures against single or unattached women and Wives continually pestered by men of tapols are pressured into divorce and remarriage. The oppression Indonesian women the suffer under to the Australian generals' rule must be of particular concern movement and progressive people as a whole, in women's feted by Suharto Year when International Women's our most Liberals the Whitlam and seen by him and important ally. (Material in this article has been abridged from TAPOL, the magazine of the British Campaign for the Release Political Prisoners (March 1975), available for Indonesian two pounds sterling a year from 103 Tilehurst Wandsworth Common, National Library of Australia London SW18, Britain.) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236921364