EAST JAVA: FEMALE CANDIDATES UNAFRAID OF COMPETITION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SURABAYA 000023 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, INR/EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KISL ID SUBJECT: EAST JAVA: FEMALE CANDIDATES UNAFRAID OF COMPETITION REF: 08 SURABAYA 94 SURABAYA 00000023 001.2 OF 002 This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: East Java's female legislative candidates are not worried about their ability to compete in upcoming national elections despite the effective cancellation of a quota requiring that women account for 30% of candidates. More than gender, a lack of experience and education are the key hurdles according to female candidates we spoke with at two recent election-related events in Surabaya. End Summary ¶2. (SBU) During a March 3 luncheon at the Consul General's residence and a March 6 public forum for female candidates held in Surabaya, candidates were unified in the view that they can compete effectively in the April legislative elections. Candidates and cadres from eight political parties described the future impact of gender on political campaigns after a December 2008 decision by the Constitutional Court rendered moot a 30% quota for women candidates. Now parties must give seats to candidates selected by voters not the party leadership. During the 2004 election, parties with the most votes chose officeholders from among their rank-ordered list of candidates. This year, party slates were fixed in October, prior to the December 2008 move to direct election of legislators. Candidates will now appeal directly for votes rather than battling for position within their party. How this might change individual campaign strategies and effect the representation of women is unclear. This year, 35% of Indonesia's 11,300 legislative candidates are women. Islam and Gender Politics -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Yulyani, a sitting local parliamentarian and vice mayoral candidate from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS),said religion, not gender, is the key concern of the electorate. She warned that carping about women's marginalization only leads to more of the same and robs focus from issues of universal concern. Yulyani emphasized the need for the candidate to be assertive and overcome feminine stereotypes. ¶4. (SBU) There is a clear difference in perspective about the impact of Islam on gender and politics among political parties that try to appeal to Muslim voters. Questions from the floor at a March 6 forum on Women in Politics organized by Surabaya's Airlangga University pointed out the contradiction between the liberal aspirations of female PKS candidates and their party's conservative views of women's roles in society. In the recent gubernatorial election, PKS refused to support the female candidate specifically because of her gender (reftel). In previous discussions with the Consulate, PKS party cadres have admitted that East Java's traditional local culture with its influential religious leaders (Kiai) is a barrier to the success of PKS more broadly. The cosmopolitan Islamic conservatism of PKS cadres often clashes with the hierarchical Javanese traditions of rural East Java. ¶5. (SBU) Two candidates from the United Development Party (PPP) explained that their party exemplifies this more traditional East Java-style politics. Many of PPP's female candidates are daughters of well-respected Kiai (Islamic clerics) and are automatically part of the informal political structure of East Java. PPP is counting on name recognition and family connections to give their female candidates a leg up. Paradoxically, these PPP candidates said that voters who respect the daughter of a Kiai might also be reluctant to fully accept women as leaders, outside traditional gender roles. Newest Parties Are Optimistic -------------- ¶6. (SBU) All the guests at the luncheon agreed that female candidates can compete and win as demonstrated by the tiny margin of defeat suffered by East Java's first female candidate for governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa (reftel). The reasons for optimism are best described by representatives from two of Indonesia's newest parties, Gerindra and Hanura. Their candidates told us that providing competent female candidates should be sufficient to gain some ground on established parties. Gerindra has put female candidates at the top of its party slate in two legislative districts in East Java and three in Surabaya. ¶7. (SBU) Candidates from Indonesia's newest parties have to promote themselves and their party at the same time. Ms. Lilik SURABAYA 00000023 002.2 OF 002 of Hanura (a secular, nationalist party headed by former General Wiranto) spent two months promoting her party prior to being named a candidate. Lilik said that skills built while the head of a small business association easily transferred to politics. She is optimistic of her chances and said many of her male opponents aren't bothering to reach out. Dr. Wike is a dentist and member of Gerindra (a secular nationalist party headed by former General Prabowo). Dr. Wike suggested that Indonesian and particularly Javanese culture continues to limit women to fixed professional roles outside the home like teaching and nursing. Women must make a special effort to gain political skills, but it can be done. Ms. Yayuk a bakery owner and another Gerindra legislative candidate, underlined the importance of practical experience and self-confidence gained from dealing with the public. Qualifications not Quotas -------------- ¶8. (SBU) While the quota system provided opportunities and experience to female candidates, many agreed that some poorly qualified female legislators were elected and this damaged the image of all female politicians. Yulyani observed that one of her four female MP colleagues in the Surabaya Legislature has never expressed an opinion publicly and is little more than a note taker for her party. Only two of the four contribute to the decision making process, according to Yulyani. MCCLELLAND