Not Defending Women, PDIP Cadres Are Ready To Be Fired By Megawati

DOK./ General Chairperson of PDIP Megawati Soekarnoputri (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Chairperson of the PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri admitted that she was angry with the increasing number of cases of violence against children and women amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This case report was received by Megawati from the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (MenPPPA) I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati.

Megawati said Indonesia could not be a developed country if violence against children and women continued to occur in society.

"With all due respect to the men. It turns out that the perpetrators of violence were men. Then what would Indonesia be like this," said Megawati while briefing candidates for regional heads who were going to virtually take part in the Class II Party School activities, Wednesday, August 26.

Mega reminded women in Indonesia that they should participate in fighting for their parties, including their cadres. He even emphasized that he was ready to fire female party cadres if they did not defend women.

"Women (PDIP cadres, red) who did not defend their people, I fired," said Megawati.

"Even though I said earlier that the executive is very difficult, why not fight for it? If the family itself is formed, especially with the people who should be helped, is that correct or not? Try to answer," he added.

Likewise, if there are cadres who commit violence against women, Mega will not hesitate to fire them.

"If I hear from you that someone has committed acts of violence, I will fire it," he said.

Meanwhile, quoted from data from Komnas Perempuan, there were 1,299 cases of violence against women including girls from March to May 2020. This data was found in Komnas Perempuan's qualitative study of the service situation for women victims of violence and victim assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Komnas Perempuan noted that psychological and physical violence still dominates in the private sphere.

Meanwhile, sexual violence is still high in the public and state domains.

This study found that online-based violence against women was 129 cases or 11 percent of which were dominated by threats of sexual violence.