Crime of violence not of passion

The article titled 'Politician demands evidence of gang rapes during riots of July 30' just goes to highlight the massive misconceptions still existing about the crime of rape.

The article quoted a "senior politician" from the ruling Golkar political grouping as demanding "proof" that gang rapes really took place during the May riot because "I find it hard to accept the claims. How could they happen right in the middle of the riot?" The article then explained that this politician believes that it would be psychologically difficult for any person to muster "sexual desire" in the middle of a noisy crowd of rioters and looters.

In light of the fact that the New York Times reported on June 16 this year that the United Nations has declared rape an international war crime, this politician's perception of this brutal and violent crime as an act of "sexual desire" is outdated if not potentially damaging to the efforts now undertaken here to prevent further attacks on women.

Statistics gleaned through intensive research in a number of countries conclude that sexual assault is not s "crime of passion" but a "crime of violence", in which assailants seek to dominate, humiliate or punish their victims. This perception is strengthened by the fact that research done in the late 1970s in North America established that 75 percent of all assaults are planned in advance, and when three or more assailants are involved, 90 percent are planned.

With the National Commission on Human Rights and even the Ministry of Women's Roles and President B.J. Habibie acknowledging that the rapes occurred and condemning them as acts of "sexual violence", surely it is time to set aside the old misperceptions of what rape is or isn't and to get down to the work of assisting victims and formulating laws to prevent any further such outrages.

MARGARET AGUSTA

Jakarta