Crime victims' rights

Crime victims' rights

Vice President Try Sutrisno has reminded us once again of the
need to provide legal protection for crime victims. A public
debate concerning the issue developed a few years ago, when
crimes occurred with increasing frequency and brutality.
Criminals took not only their victim's belongings, but often
killed them too. Female victims were often raped.

Because of those incidents, legal experts and organizations
raised the need to protect crime victims. The law provides
protection for criminals, as do prisons by educating inmates and
giving them vocational training. Crime victims, on the other
hand, do not enjoy such protection. Witnesses in crimes may also
need protection because they are often pursued by criminals
trying to erase their tracks.

Golkar's legal assistance institute held a seminar some time
ago to discuss protection for crime victims. Lawyer RO Tambunan
proposed the government prepare a draft law on the issue, while
Dr. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, a criminal law expert at the
University of Indonesia, urged the public to set up an
organization to assist those victims.

We believe it is indeed advisable that something be done by
the public, given the rising quantity and severity of crimes.
This rise in the crime rate in turn causes an increase in the
number of crime victims. Among those victims, the suffering is
all the more deep for those who belong to the poor and powerless.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta