No more questions on May gang rapes<\/p>\n
From Sinar Pagi<\/p>\n
After a long and arduous investigation fraught with the pros
\nand cons over whether gang rapes were committed in the mid-May
\nriot, finally on Nov. 3, 1998, the independent joint fact-finding
\nteam made an official statement that this barbarian act did
\noccur.<\/p>\n
Long before this statement was made, a group of people had
\ntrickily attempted to blur the effort to probe the gang rapes.
\nThey had systematically tried to make a distinction between
\nrioting, looting and gang rape. Regrettably, several government
\nofficials did make public statements to the effect that the gang
\nrapes were only a figment of someone's imagination. These
\nstatements -- obviously an attempt to shape public opinion that
\nrapes were never been committed -- were indeed very stupid
\nconsidering that the joint fact-finding team was officially set
\nup to find out whether the rapes occurred.<\/p>\n
How could non-governmental organizations, on the one hand,
\ndiscover gang rape victims while other relevant government
\nagencies failed to find any? Doesn't it simply show that they
\nreally did not know how to do things properly? Again, I regret
\nthat some government officials made very thoughtless statements
\non this gang rape matter. Not only are such statements out of
\nproportion, but they also tend to find a scapegoat. They are
\nnothing less than the New Order's usual way of silencing truth.
\nBesides, they also reflect a lack of seriousness in handling a
\ncase.<\/p>\n
Therefore, allow me to suggest that government officials who
\nhave stated that there are no gang rapes should resign. The same
\ngoes for those who threatened to take non-governmental
\norganizations to court for disseminating false reports that the
\ngang rapes did occur.<\/p>\n
Finally, allow me to call on the government to thoroughly
\nuncover the network of perpetrators of highly organized and
\nsystematic gang rape. Otherwise it may be safely assumed that the
\ngovernment legally condones this barbarian way to pursue a
\npolitical interest. To members of the joint fact-finding team,
\nallow me to express my deep gratitude for their success in
\nproving that gang rapes in the mid-May riots did occur.<\/p>\n
R. HERDANDY SUHERMAN<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-more-questions-on-may-gang-rapes-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }