Bogor 09/27/2015, Maridiana Dereen opened the second national meeting of Perempuan AMAN which was held in Bumi Gumati, Bogor, September 27th-29th 2015 with the ceremonial of Paramisi Dayak Maanyan, East Barito. The ceremonial was done to ask permission of the ritual of ancestral with the symbol, rice sinubuhnya (rice was put above the head). Ranutatungkal cleaned every bad thing with splash of water. Devi Anggraini,the Chairman of the second National Meeting PA, then, explained about the readiness of the committee and the expectation that this event was able to make the indigenous women could stand alone.
“Do we, as the indigenous women, really involve to make decision in our families, communities and our country?” said Romba’ Maranu sombolinggi’ National Board of Perempuan AMAN on his welcoming speech. “Many things relate to women, but someone else makes the decision about it and we accept. Probably, it is caused of the weakness of our capacity. In this meeting, we will discuss about it together to overview about our condition, what we will do to get out from those problems. “Let’s us commit for one word and walk together to continue this fight of the indigenous women,” Romba said.
In this occasion, the general secretary of AMAN, Abdon Nababan, confessed that there must be the indigenous women in every single fight of the indigenous people. Abdon gave the example through Mrs. Fransiska from the Semunying-Bangka community who also attended the indigenous women national meeting.
Mrs. Fransiska and her team had to work for their lives to get money in the company which stole their lands. She also got offer for hundred millions cash but she has been still with her people – (Iban)until today, she had to become a witness to fight against the company in the law court. This kind of situation is part of the fight of indigenous women. Just imagine how Mrs. Fransiska suffered,” said abdon nababan.
“There are still other mothers that suffer like Mrs. Fransiska who fight alone and there are no friends at all. This does not replace her fight. However, I want to tell you that there are many people with us, do not be afraid! We pray, greet and keep the spirit,” abdon continued.
“The indigenous women are so indispensable, more indispensable than men because the working hours of women are longer than men’s. But if we do not take care of the indigenous women, their condition will get worse. In the fight of indigenous people, the role of men and women are needed. In 1999, actually the indigenous women fought to get the position in AMAN. It was not a gift. I am sure that the indigenous women still work in on it,” abdon confirmed.
The general secretary of AMAN, Abdon Nababan, gave his welcome speech.
“Someday, there will be recognition and law protection for the indigenous people. If there is recognition of indigenous people’s right by the state, there will be a big risk that will be faced by the indigenous people in constitutional. At that time we do not go back to become the indigenous people, we will be vanished,” Abdon continued.
“If the indigenous people don’t want to be ruinous, the indigenous people should have self introspection to return the indigenous people. If the fate and affinity are not with our goals together, we will colonize ourselves”.
“The indigenous women have to show up to prevent it in being organized because the indigenous women are close to the children and families and also values. The movement of the indigenous women can do the change in the families and children’s education through indigenous schools. The movement of indigenous people and the indigenous women actually are the regeneration of the decolonization that started by the founders of this nation. If we read the opening of constitution, we know that we must free ourselves from the colonialism including the colonialism from our people”.
There are so many problems in our indigenous region, we do not export the knowledge and the product of our culture and nature anymore, but we do export the human trafficking. The indigenous women must fight this humans trafficking, they must capable to against the spread of HIV virus. And there is no another way. We have many duties. AMAN will stick together and support the decision of this national meeting,” abdon said on his last speech.
Tha second national meeting of AMAN women will be continued with the witness session of Misic ethnic – Sarasehan “ The indigenous women and the nature resources management” –the Indigenous women, Indigenous people and the state”****JLG
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