BURMESE WOMEN DEMAND EQUAL RIGHTS WITH MEN

Shannon News, 17 May 1929, Page 4

BURMESE WOMEN DEMAND EQUAL RIGHTS WITH MEN

SIMON CONFERENCE HEARS ! REQUEST. BOMBAY. The Burmese women have had poav to vote for members of the local Leg lature on the same terms as men f the last seven years,but they have be< denied the right to choose one of the own sex to represetn them. This a omaly in Burma, a country where wor on have taken an active part in publ life for generations, .Avas stressed by deputation of Burmese women ,led I Miss C. Dantra, barrister-'at-law, wl gave evidence before the Simon Joir Conference (Royal Commission and Ii dian Central Committee) at Rangoon.

There are none of the obstacles i Burma, as, the deputation pointed ou which face Avomen in India. "W have no caste system," said the spokesman, "no purdah (veiling b Avomen). Yet, while in India most o the provinces have been enfranchise completely, by allowing them to vot as well as to sit on the local Legis latures, in this, .province we are olil partly enfranchised. We are only a! loAved to vote for men to speak for us We, by reason of our sex,; are more fit ted to deal with certain problems of i social character, housing, health an< hygiene and the education of children We women in Bui'ma are Avilling t'< shoulder our responsibility toward th< next generation and the Avelfare of th( state in general."