A question for Tutty Alawiah

A question for Tutty Alawiah

From Kompas

One of the ministers of the Development Reform Cabinet whose voice is hardly every heard is the State Minister of Women's Roles. Harsh voices from the public condemning and complaining about sexual harassment and rapes of Indonesian women in the May 13 to May 14 riots seem to be like a temporary storm passing through the office of the Minister of Women's Roles.

Should not the Minister be the most interested party in such cases? If other ministers are endeavoring to make breakthroughs in handling various crises now, what has Mrs. Tutty Alawiah done about handling this moral crisis? If she has not had the time to think about it, at least she should have condemned the actions.

Is she waiting for the victims to go crazy from long periods of stress and fear? Or is she waiting for similar things to happen again? Is it because the victims are of a different race that we do not need to condemn the action? What about the heroes and heroines of the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup badminton championships who are mostly of a different race than ours? While abroad they made great efforts for the Indonesian nation, while their brothers and sisters were unjustly treated at home.

I am an indigenous Indonesian woman who has many friends and students of Chinese ancestry. They are all close, friendly and polite. I am very much saddened and concerned about the happenings on May 13 and May 14 and the lack of concern on the part of the Minister of Women's Roles.

I pray that God gives physical and moral strength to our brothers and sisters who have been victims of this moral decadence.

It is not easy for a minister if he/she intends to fulfill his/her tasks seriously. It is far simpler to obtain the job just for its prestige only.

SRIKANDI FARDIAZ

Bogor, West Java