Pillorying rapists may hurt victims<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A mass communication expert warned that the plan
\nto expose the photographs and identities of convicted rapists to
\nthe public through television could have negative repercussions
\nfor their victims.<\/p>\n
Alwi Dahlan said the media publicity given to a rape case
\ncould eventually draw people's attention to the rape victims, who
\nhave to carry the trauma for the rest of their lives, the Antara
\nnews agency reported.<\/p>\n
\"The proposal must be carefully weighed, especially in terms
\nof the benefits and the costs,\" said the staff lecturer at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia's post graduate study program.<\/p>\n
He insisted that the psychological effect on the victims must
\nbe a factor in the consideration.<\/p>\n
Alwi, who is also deputy chairman of the BP7, the Presidential
\nAdvisory Board on matters of Pancasila ideology, underlined that
\nmost rape victims are still reluctant to come forward and report
\ntheir ordeal for fear that publicity, especially from the media,
\nwould be generated.<\/p>\n
Minister of Women's Role Mien Sugandhi made the controversial
\nproposal early this month. She said she wanted the state
\ntelevision network TVRI to broadcast the photographs of rapists
\ndue to its deterrent impact.<\/p>\n
Her proposal was widely supported by women's organizations,
\nwhich have found that the courts of law have been too lenient in
\npunishing rapists. The Congress of Indonesian Women, which is an
\numbrella group for over 70 women organizations, describes
\npillorying as the next best thing to a death sentence.<\/p>\n
The government is now considering the proposal.<\/p>\n
Alwi said the authorities must approach the issue carefully.<\/p>\n
He said television is a powerful media and its coverage of
\ncriminal cases, including rape, must be tightly supervised.<\/p>\n
He noted that there is a tendency for the public to consider a
\ndefendant guilty if the cases receives wide media attention.<\/p>\n
He pointed out the way television covered the death of a young
\nbusinessman in which starlet Ria Irawan was implicated. He also
\ncited the situation of the former directors of Bapindo, a state-
\nowned bank, in a huge loan scandal. Both were highly publicized
\ncases this year. (emb)<\/p>",
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