Yogyakarta (22/4) Gadjah Mada University Graduate School (SPs) held an open examination for doctoral promotion on behalf of student Arifah Rahmawati from the Leadership and Policy Innovation Program. The open examination takes place in the Auditorium of the Gadjah Mada University Postgraduate School, from 10.00 to 12.00. On this occasion, Arifah Rahmawati explained the results of her dissertation research entitled Gender Contest in Violent Conflict and Peace (Study of Reintegration of Women Combatants of the Free Aceh Movement – Inong Balee).
According to Arifah, the violent conflict that occurred in Aceh has placed women in a very central position both in the micro, mezzo and macro spheres. However, when the conflict ceased these roles were simply not seen and acknowledged. Women are often only placed as victims and placed as passive parties. Women are considered as parties who do not have the ability, needs, rights, responsibilities and access to economic, social and political resources.
In her dissertation, Arifah Rahmawati questions about “How is gender contestation in the implementation of reintegration of female combatants in Aceh”. He specified this question in three derivative questions: (1) How does gender affect women's involvement in violent conflict and peace, especially reintegration in Aceh ?, (2) How did the reintegration of combatants create a cycle of gender injustice in Aceh and (3) How does this gender inequality responded by female combatants. To answer and understand this, Arifah narrowed the focus of her research by examining the perspective of gender-based power relations that emerged from women former GAM combatants known as Forces Inong Balee.
Arifah revealed that one of the important findings from her research was that gender contributed to the process of reintegration of the Inong Balee which was controversial in the context of relationships within GAM combatants in general (men and women). Gender also contests among Inong Balee itself so that there is a hierarchy and a face that is not homogeneous in Inong Balee. Inong Bale's hierarchy is determined by the presence or absence of power or relationships with male GAM leaders.
Furthermore, Arifah explained that the peace building process in Aceh had resulted in a cycle of gender injustice for female combatants, Inong Balee. The exclusion of women who were former combatants from the peace building and reintegration process in Aceh is a missed opportunity to change the meaning of women's heroism and recognition of the power of women's agency in post-conflict reconstruction.
Arifah made several recommendations based on his findings: (1) that gender is very important to be integrated in every stage of conflict resolution and peace building in order to rebuild an equal society while at the same time promoting sustainable peace in Aceh. (2) When women have different experiences during violent conflict and afterward, considering their problems, experiences and opinions means that they have resolved the needs of more than half of society, (3) ensure that there is concern for inclusive gender relations at every stage and peace building strategy that has been planned.
This researcher at the Center for Security and Peace Studies at Gadjah Mada University was successfully declared a Doctor with Cumlaude honors. (SPs / Putri)