Habibie condemns May rapes, conveys regret<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie condemned yesterday the
\nrape of dozens of women during and after the May riots in Jakarta
\nand other cities, and promised greater protection for women.<\/p>\n
Habibie met with women activists from the Movement for Anti
\nViolence Against Women whom he said presented \"clear and
\nauthentic\" evidence of assaults against women in mid-May.<\/p>\n
\"After hearing their reports, ... I expressed my deepest
\nregret at the violence which runs counter to the nation's
\ncultural values.<\/p>\n
\"I promise the government will be proactive in giving
\nprotection and security to all layers of society, to prevent a
\nrepetition of this inhuman episode in the history of the nation,\"
\nhe said in a statement televised nationwide.<\/p>\n
\"On behalf of the government and the nation, I condemn the
\nsimultaneous acts of violence during the riots, including the
\nviolence perpetrated against women.\"<\/p>\n
This was the first direct public condemnation by Habibie of
\nthe rapes and sexual abuse, which activists said systematically
\ntargeted women of Chinese descent.<\/p>\n
The government has been criticized for its slow response to
\nreports of the rapes. One volunteer group said it had evidence of
\n162 rape victims, including 20 who had subsequently died.<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Human Rights has blamed the
\ngovernment for security lapses that allowed the assaults on women
\nto become widespread. The commission demanded the government
\napologize for the neglect.<\/p>\n
Habibie urged the public to report immediately to authorities
\nany sign of an imminent act of violence against women. (prb\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/habibie-condemns-may-rapes-conveys-regret-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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