UNION OF WOMEN SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE MURDER OF HUMANITY ACTIVIST "MARTHADINATA (ITA)"

Yuniyanti Chuzaifah

On 9 October 1998 a humanity activist named Marthadinata (Ita) was sadistically murdered in her very young age (17 years old). Ita joined the Volunteer Team for Humanity in accompanying raped victims in last middle May. Even recently, she, together with her mother were actually preparing the testimonies of the raped victims for some international human rights organisations. Her death leaves a deep wound in the movement of anti-violence against women .

It's really so difficult for us to accept this fact. The sadistic murder of our friend Ita in the midst of her activities in the field of humanity brings about a big question mark for us, concerning the increasing number of terror acts targeting the defenders of humanity recently. A serie of violence, starting from the kidnapping and the shooting of student activists, which remains unsolved up to now, the looting, and the rape in May 1998, the slaughter of hundreds of people who were accused witch doctors in Banyuwangi, all have showed us that the dimension of humanity is at the lowest point. We feel that we are experiencing a point of return in our civilization back into savagery. Besides that, the sadistic terrors against the other defenders of humanity have really harassed the most basic right of the Indonesian people, that is the right to live. From all of these cases, there's no thorough responsibility from the government up to now.

Therefore, we, from the Union of Women Solidarity stated our stands:

1. We demand the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to thoroughly investigate this murder case and to announce the result transparently to the public as soon as possible.

2. We demand the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to thouroughly investigate the terror actions targeting the humanity activists.

3. We demand the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to protect all of its citizens from violence acts.

To grow this solidarity stand and to campaign the anti violence movement, the Union of Women Solidarity invites all people to tie a black ribbon around left arm as a symbol of our sorrow until this case is thoroughly investigated.

Jakarta, 10 October 1998

Yuniyanti Chuzaifah

Union Dept

Wahyu Susilo

Politic Dept.