Jakarta – In the wake of Jakarta Police plans to seek more evidence to prove allegations of sexual assault implicating an agency's high-ranking official, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) stated that the acknowledgement of victims' statements should be considered as appropriate evidence.
"It takes extraordinary courage to report such an experience to police," said Saur Tumiur Situmorang, a commissioner at Komnas Perempuan, adding that a pro-victim approach is needed, the more so as sexual assault cases are still treated as general criminal acts.
Jakarta Police spokesman Comr. Baharudin Djafar said on Thursday that investigators would conduct a "case expose" to collect more evidence to verify allegations that a National Land Agency (BPN) official, identified as G, sexually harassed three of his female employees.
Baharudin added that if police could not prove that a crime has taken place, they would halt the investigation.
Saur said "Evidence in a sexual assault case is the recognition of victims. There are three victim-witnesses in this case – that is strong evidence. They can be witnesses for each other."
The women, identified as A.I.F., A.N. and N.P.S., reported G to police last week for alleged sexual harassment. They also provided investigators with a video, containing an alleged confession from G.
The police will hold an evidence collection and verification session next week to probe the allegations.
The director of Jurnal Perempuan Foundation, Mariana Amiruddin, said that the process of investigations and trials in sexual assault cases should not be open to the public and that victims should not be confronted by the perpetrators.
"Victims are the powerless party, while perpetrators hold the power. If they are in the same place at the same time, the victims will not likely say anything," she said.
Under the existing law, sexual assault is not a specific crime and is only treated as an "unpleasant act"; therefore, perpetrators usually avoid heavy penalties.
The victims' lawyer, Ahmad Jazuli, said separately that investigations into sexual assault cases are still not pro-victim and that his clients, and he as their lawyer, are the ones who should be pro-active in demanding their rights.
"When my clients first reported the case, they were questioned by male police officers. We later asked for policewomen to handle the questioning process. Fortunately, they granted our request," he said.
Ahmad refused to elaborate on the way in which the investigators questioned his clients. "But so far, [the investigators] have been professional," he added.
Ahmad lamented, however, the statement by police, saying that it was too soon to release a statement on the issue of evidence, considering the case is still under investigation. Ahmad previously said that his clients would submit more proof to the police to support their allegations.
However, he pointed out, "it is the investigators' job to collect more evidence; they are authorized to come to the agency's office as the crime scene to search for evidence, or question other employees." "We hope that the investigators can be more progressive," he added.
Commissioner Saur said that the police need more training on gender-based human rights education. "We have been working together with the police to provide the training, but then the trained police are being transferred to other units," she said. (swd)
Indonesian Council of Ulema branch moves to ban sexy dangdut singers
Jakarta Globe - September 30, 2011
Antara & Camelia Pasandaran – A branch of the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) is moving to ban erotic dangdut singers, including Inul Daratista, Dewi Persik and Julia Perez in what it says is a move to preserve the nation's morals.
The action follows a ban by the South Sumatra branch of MUI, Indonesia's top Muslim clerical body established by former dictator Suharto. It has very little real power and its edicts or fatwas are generally ignored.
Besides Inul, Dewi and Jupe, MUI West Java branch secretary general Rafani Achyar said he wanted to ban Anisa Bahar, Uut Permatasari, Ira Swara, Nita Thalia and the group Trio Macan.
Rafani said it was the actions of the singers, not the individuals themselves or the music, that was offensive.
He said art could not be used as an excuse to protect the singers, saying art was something that was beautiful, not something that created chaos and crime. "They [the women] can work for a living but they should not sacrifice morality."