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