M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – The government has yet to show its seriousness in making policies concerning the handling of victims of violence and sexual harassment.

As a result, the victim is named suspect of the electronic information and transactions (ITE Law) as faced by a teacher Baiq Nuril and a former worker of the Worker's Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) Rizky Amelia.

"Every time victims of sexual harassment speak up, they are charged with ITE Law," said Mariana Amiruddin, the commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), in her office, Monday, August 19.

"This causes victims to sustain severe depression and mental health problems."

Mariana said the House of Representatives (DPR) yet to ratify the draft bill on the elimination of sexual violence (PKS). Also, Mariana opined President Joko Widodo or Jokowi did not put special concern on cases of sexual assaults.The lack of concern from the government then caused the handling of such cases as those to stuck. In the case of Amelia, the investigation was stopped in the Police's General Criminal Unit because of inadequate evidence.

Instead of seeking other pieces of evidence to resume the investigation, Mariana added, the 27-year-old woman is threatened by ITE Law. The police have summoned Ameliafor two times in the case.

As faced by Baiq Nuril, Mariana said, "she is the one who makes the report, and she becomes the suspect."

Amelia filed a police report against her former employer who was BPJS Ketenagakerjaan supervisory board member, Syafri Adnan Baharuddin, for alleged sexual violations for two years, 2016-2018. Syafrin denied the allegation.

Syafrin then resigned from his position in December 2018. The President's decree on Syafrin's resignation letter issued on January 17 was sued by Rizky Amelia as it considered hampering the case revealation.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1238520/rizky-amelia-faces-ite-law-charges-as-baiq-nuril