Habibie condemns May rapes, conveys regret

Habibie condemns May rapes, conveys regret

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie condemned yesterday the
rape of dozens of women during and after the May riots in Jakarta
and other cities, and promised greater protection for women.

Habibie met with women activists from the Movement for Anti
Violence Against Women whom he said presented "clear and
authentic" evidence of assaults against women in mid-May.

"After hearing their reports, ... I expressed my deepest
regret at the violence which runs counter to the nation's
cultural values.

"I promise the government will be proactive in giving
protection and security to all layers of society, to prevent a
repetition of this inhuman episode in the history of the nation,"
he said in a statement televised nationwide.

"On behalf of the government and the nation, I condemn the
simultaneous acts of violence during the riots, including the
violence perpetrated against women."

This was the first direct public condemnation by Habibie of
the rapes and sexual abuse, which activists said systematically
targeted women of Chinese descent.

The government has been criticized for its slow response to
reports of the rapes. One volunteer group said it had evidence of
162 rape victims, including 20 who had subsequently died.

The National Commission on Human Rights has blamed the
government for security lapses that allowed the assaults on women
to become widespread. The commission demanded the government
apologize for the neglect.

Habibie urged the public to report immediately to authorities
any sign of an imminent act of violence against women. (prb/emb)