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