Bakin under fire over statement on rapes
Bakin under fire over statement on rapes
JAKARTA (JP): Scholars and observers strongly criticized the
head of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin) Lt.
Gen. (ret) Moetojib yesterday for his remark that reports of gang
rapes during the May riots had been exaggerated to undermine the
government.
They said Moetojib had been "careless" in his statement and
had apparently failed to learn from a similar blunder committed
last week by his colleague, National Police chief Lt. Gen.
Roesmanhadi.
They said separately yesterday that Moetojib should have
exercised self-restraint and not made the comments, at least
until the government-sponsored joint fact-finding team had
completed its investigation into the violence.
The fact-finding team is led by Marzuki Darusman, deputy
chairman of the highly respected National Commission on Human
Rights.
Reacting to Moetojib's statement, Melly G. Tan from the Atma
Jaya University sociology research center said: "I was
appalled ... he should not have said such things. I strongly
object to that."
"It's against all rules and ethics (for him to say that) since
the fact-finding team is still investigating the matter," she
said.
"Didn't Moetojib know the investigation team was set up by the
government?" Melly said.
Melly added that Moetojib's statement could discourage those
victims and witnesses who are almost ready to testify from going
before a court.
Theologist Marianne Kattoppo, interviewed on the sidelines of
a political discussion held by the Center for Strategic and
International Studies here yesterday, was brief with her comment:
"He should be ashamed."
Political scientist Smita Notosusanto from University of
Indonesia said: "Pak Moetojib was not being realistic. He said
the Armed Forces (ABRI) has yet to receive reports (from victims
and witnesses) ... but who trusts the military these days?"
"It's possible the statement indicates the start of an attempt
to prevent an investigation of the military's alleged role in the
violence," she added.
On Monday Moetojib said the state intelligence board has yet
to find any evidence that the rapes actually took place.
He also claimed that neither the joint fact-finding team, the
police or the Armed Forces (ABRI) had found any substantial
evidence to support claims that at least 168 women of Chinese
descent were systematically raped during the unrest.
"Why hasn't a single one of the rape victims come forward to
file a report?" he remarked.
Although the government has officially condemned the rapes,
Moetojib joined the ranks of officials who have questioned and
even lashed out at those who have continued efforts to uncover
the truth.
Last week, National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi
threatened to prosecute activists if they continued to press
their claims without providing supporting evidence.
Yesterday, businessman Sofjan Wanandi said: "(Moetojib) should
have urged the fact-finding team to complete its investigation
more swiftly rather than come out with a statement of this
nature.
"After the police chief, now it's the intelligence chief who
had been too hasty to comment on the matter. If it is later
discovered that the rapes did indeed take place they will look
very stupid," said Sofjan, who is of Chinese descent.
Despite recent claims to the contrary, the National Commission
on Human Rights has confirmed that many Chinese-Indonesian women
were gang-raped during the riots of May 13 and 14 in Jakarta.
The Volunteers for Humanity led by Catholic Priest Ign.
Sandyawan Sumardi was the first non-governmental organization to
raise the alarm about what it alleged was the systematic rape of
women of Chinese descent. (aan)