Bakin under fire over statement on rapes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Scholars and observers strongly criticized the
\nhead of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin) Lt.
\nGen. (ret) Moetojib yesterday for his remark that reports of gang
\nrapes during the May riots had been exaggerated to undermine the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
They said Moetojib had been \"careless\" in his statement and
\nhad apparently failed to learn from a similar blunder committed
\nlast week by his colleague, National Police chief Lt. Gen.
\nRoesmanhadi.<\/p>\n
They said separately yesterday that Moetojib should have
\nexercised self-restraint and not made the comments, at least
\nuntil the government-sponsored joint fact-finding team had
\ncompleted its investigation into the violence.<\/p>\n
The fact-finding team is led by Marzuki Darusman, deputy
\nchairman of the highly respected National Commission on Human
\nRights.<\/p>\n
Reacting to Moetojib's statement, Melly G. Tan from the Atma
\nJaya University sociology research center said: \"I was
\nappalled ... he should not have said such things. I strongly
\nobject to that.\"<\/p>\n
\"It's against all rules and ethics (for him to say that) since
\nthe fact-finding team is still investigating the matter,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"Didn't Moetojib know the investigation team was set up by the
\ngovernment?\" Melly said.<\/p>\n
Melly added that Moetojib's statement could discourage those
\nvictims and witnesses who are almost ready to testify from going
\nbefore a court.<\/p>\n
Theologist Marianne Kattoppo, interviewed on the sidelines of
\na political discussion held by the Center for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies here yesterday, was brief with her comment:
\n\"He should be ashamed.\"<\/p>\n
Political scientist Smita Notosusanto from University of
\nIndonesia said: \"Pak Moetojib was not being realistic. He said
\nthe Armed Forces (ABRI) has yet to receive reports (from victims
\nand witnesses) ... but who trusts the military these days?\"<\/p>\n
\"It's possible the statement indicates the start of an attempt
\nto prevent an investigation of the military's alleged role in the
\nviolence,\" she added.<\/p>\n
On Monday Moetojib said the state intelligence board has yet
\nto find any evidence that the rapes actually took place.<\/p>\n
He also claimed that neither the joint fact-finding team, the
\npolice or the Armed Forces (ABRI) had found any substantial
\nevidence to support claims that at least 168 women of Chinese
\ndescent were systematically raped during the unrest.<\/p>\n
\"Why hasn't a single one of the rape victims come forward to
\nfile a report?\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Although the government has officially condemned the rapes,
\nMoetojib joined the ranks of officials who have questioned and
\neven lashed out at those who have continued efforts to uncover
\nthe truth.<\/p>\n
Last week, National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi
\nthreatened to prosecute activists if they continued to press
\ntheir claims without providing supporting evidence.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, businessman Sofjan Wanandi said: \"(Moetojib) should
\nhave urged the fact-finding team to complete its investigation
\nmore swiftly rather than come out with a statement of this
\nnature.<\/p>\n
\"After the police chief, now it's the intelligence chief who
\nhad been too hasty to comment on the matter. If it is later
\ndiscovered that the rapes did indeed take place they will look
\nvery stupid,\" said Sofjan, who is of Chinese descent.<\/p>\n
Despite recent claims to the contrary, the National Commission
\non Human Rights has confirmed that many Chinese-Indonesian women
\nwere gang-raped during the riots of May 13 and 14 in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Volunteers for Humanity led by Catholic Priest Ign.
\nSandyawan Sumardi was the first non-governmental organization to
\nraise the alarm about what it alleged was the systematic rape of
\nwomen of Chinese descent. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bakin-under-fire-over-statement-on-rapes-1447893297",
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