Budiarti Utami Putri, Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) stated that the raids on online commercial sex workers by Gerindra politician Andre Rosiade underlined the trend of masculine morality.

Komnas Perempuan Commissioner Mariana Amiruddin sees Andre's motivation behind the raids was to strengthen his political position. "This (the raids) is morality utilized to strengthen his own political position," Mariana told Tempo, Wednesday night, February 5, 2020.

Komnas Perempuan alleged the raids to have been an entrapment. According to Mariana, the entrapment of sex workers is an act that criminalizes women and shows failure in understanding the issue of prostitution.

Mariana went on to say that the entrapment further displayed a patriarchal culture that did not understand the conditions and lives of sex workers, who often are the victims of human trafficking practices. The entrapment also indicated the moral standards of men, as the women are cornered so that it was difficult to defend themselves.

The raids on commercial sex workers by Andre Rosiade took place on January 26 at a five-star hotel in Padang, West Sumatra. The Police have identified a sex worker with the initials NN, as a suspect and was charged with the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE).

On the other hand, Mariana believes that it should not be the prostitutes who should be charged. "From the legal perspective, the procurers are the ones who should be charged," said Mariana.

Andre Rosiade has not commented on the accusation that he had deliberately set a trap for the sex workers. "Please just follow the applicable legal process," Andre told Tempo, Tuesday night, February 4, 2020.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1304174/komnas-andre-rosiade-utilizing-morality-for-political-position