Nurfika Osman – Embattled celebrity Luna Maya went to the country's top rights body on Friday for help in what is becoming an increasingly bitter battle with the justice system.
With her boyfriend, singer Nazril "Ariel" Irham, in jail over sex tapes and facing possible charges herself, the model and presenter met with members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and described how she felt victimized by the system.
"I am looking for justice here because what Ariel and I have experienced so far is unfairness," she said.
Luna was accompanied by her lawyer, Taufik Basari, and a number of women's rights activists who railed against the Anti-Pornography Law, which they said criminalized victims.
"Where else should we go with this case? The perpetrator has only been sentenced to two years in jail while Ariel will have to serve three and a half years. What is the basis of all this? Is it because of public pressure?" Luna said. "Please, I just want a fair trial."
Ariel was convicted on Monday of violating the Anti-Pornography Law and the Criminal Code in connection with three sex videos that feature a man resembling him having sex separately with Luna Maya and another TV presenter, Cut Tari. He was also fined Rp 250 million ($28,000).
Reza Rizaldy, who was convicted of distributing the videos, was only jailed for two years. Prosecutors said that unlike Ariel, Reza had confessed and shown remorse.
The presiding judge in Ariel's case, Singgih Budi Prakoso, also said Ariel's celebrity was considered in the sentencing. "He has a lot of fans, mostly teenagers, who we fear might imitate his crime," he said.
Luna and Cut Tari have also been named suspects in the case, but police have said they will hold off pursuing the case against them until Ariel's appeals process is completed.
Yeni Rosa, spokeswoman for the Women's and Human Rights Activists Network for Justice, a network of 15 women's rights groups, said Ariel's case had highlighted the weaknesses of the Anti-Pornography Law.
"We are all against pornography," she said. "But Luna, Ariel, and Cut Tari are the victims."
Sri Nurherwati, a lawyer, said that while Ariel's case had gotten all the media attention, there had been other cases where the victims ended up being tried in court under the Anti-Pornography Law.
She said four girls in Bandung who were human trafficking victims were detained for five months last year after the police found them working as striptease dancers in a pub.
"These were poor girls looking to work to help their parents but ended up being deceived by criminals who promised them jobs. In the end they became the target of this law," she said. Sri also cited a case of a sex video in Karang Anyar, Central Java, involving a girl and her boyfriend.
The girl, who did not know the video had been made public, ended up being detained by the police. "This law takes a heavy toll on the victims. It does not help control or prevent pornography, just violates human rights," she said.
Worst of all, she added, is that these things can happen to anyone. "If your cellphone is stolen and private pictures are spread, the person who spreads the pictures needs to be arrested, not you," she said.
Komnas HAM said it would study the case with Luna and her legal team.