[asia-apec 906] November 25 Protest Action vs Violence Against Women

[tpl at cheerful.com]

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST 
ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
November 25, 1998

Please Bring Flowers and Candles
(To Remember the Victims in Indonesia)


	World Against Racism Movement (WARM), a non-governmental organization
established to promote social peace and to fight racism, supports the
November 25 (Wednesday) rally to be led by GABRIELA to protest violence
against women.  On the same day, marked as "International Day of Protest on
Violence Against Women," WARM and multi-sectoral business, civic, religious
and student groups will hold  a Protest Rally outside the Indonesian
Embassy (185 Salcedo St. Legaspi Village, Makati).  Assembly for rallyists
is 2:00 P.M. at Ayala Avenue across Rustan's while the main rally will be
held at 3:15 P.M. at the Indonesian Embassy.

	WARM and the other groups will condemn the military-instigated May 1998
riots and gang-rapes of the ethnic Chinese minority, especially women and
girls as young as nine years old.  The Nov. 25 rally at the Indonesian
Embassy will also hold a memorial ceremony in memory of the May victims and
the 17-year-old human rights volunteer Ita Haryono who was killed.  Ita
Heryono was active in helping ethnic Chinese rape victims, and her brutal
murder had been condemned by international human rights groups.  


WARM CONDEMNS GENERAL WIRANTO OF INDONESIAN MILITARY

	Last May 13 to 15, 1998, the Indonesian military instigated riots,
lootings, gang-rapes and killings victimizing the ethnic Chinese minority
to deflect public anger at government corruption and the economic crisis.
Unofficial estimates that 468 women and girls as young as nine years old
were gang-raped, while Indonesian NGO human rights had officially reported
168 rape victims.  Last Nov. 3, 1998, an Indonesian government report said
there were 66 rape victims, but General Wiranto denied the Indonesian
military had any involvement in these barbaric crimes.  After the May 1998
military-instigated riots, other new victims include the rape and murder of
17-year-old human rights volunteer Ita Heryono.  

Remember the crimes of May 1998, demand justice and truth!  Let us unite to
fight state racism and help stop the oppression of ethnic minorities!