JP/8/speakup

Despite the recent arrest of a suspect in the child kidnapping cases, law experts and child activists are critical of the police's investigation. The experts suggest that police need to take tougher action and that the suspects should be punished according to the Criminal Code and Law No. 23/2002 on Children's Protection. The Jakarta Post talked with them.

Purnianti, 56, is a criminologist of the University of Indonesia. She lives in Depok with her husband and son:

I think the police are not responding fast enough. If they act like this, of course the kidnappers will continue to try to get money.

Police should take tougher measures. They could ask private security officers to help them investigate, even if the costs are high.

I suggest the implementation of the Law on Children's Protection (UUPA). When the victims are children, the Criminal Code does not provide severe enough penalties.

Under the UUPA, a suspect faces a maximum punishment of 15 years in jail and a maximum fine of around Rp 300 million (US$35,294).

Unfortunately, the public is not generally aware of UUPA and maybe the kidnappers operate without realizing the kind of punishments that they could face.

Actually, I think law enforcers are also ignorant of the UUPA. If the perpetrators are caught, the UUPA should be imposed strictly.

Political parties and the mass media should campaign to support the implementation of the Law.

Topo Susanto, 33, is a law expert of the University of Indonesia. He lives in Depok with his wife and three children:

Many say that law enforcement in the country is poor and never properly implemented.

A kidnapper could face a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail with an additional sentence of one third (or four years). That's 16 years in jail but a judge rarely gives the maximum sentence.

It's not just the police but the court system. So what is it there for? All legal institutions should be responsible for dealing with criminals.

Worse still, the police do not seem to care about the cases. Is this due to bribery in the system?

We should look at other countries with efficient legal systems.

Bambang Budi S., 36, is an activist from the Indonesian Child Welfare Foundation in Central Jakarta. He lives in Cilandak, South Jakarta, with his wife:

Police still discriminate in criminal cases, the level of their investigation depends on the response of the public. The bigger the response, the more seriously the police work on the case.

The Criminal Code should not be used to sentence the kidnapping suspects as it doesn't take into account that the victims are children. The punishment is too lenient.

The UUPA, if it is properly imposed, supports the rights of the children.

But law enforcers remain ignorant about the law and its implementation. I guess the reason is that there is no campaign to educate the public.

If all law enforcers were serious in their implementation of the law then people would reconsider committing such crimes.

In addition, I object to the media broadcasting programs about criminals on television. This surely has a bad impact and could inspire criminals to use new methods.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.