No evidence?

Not surprisingly, the government has finally given up and announced that no evidence of rapes during the May riots was found. What a reckless conclusion! I would like to remind the Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto that he still owes the community an explanation as to why, during the mid-May riots, no Army personnel were deployed to places where most Chinese-Indonesians reside. What physical evidence did he expect from the raped victims after months have passed? Must the victims continue to stay in Jakarta after the abuses, mutilations and rapes?

The fact is that the barbaric rapes have not been exaggerated by the Chinese-Indonesians. I doubt the seriousness of the authorities or those in power in their attempt to investigate these shameful incidents.

Our country's image has been tarnished abroad, and the whole nation will be labeled as barbaric. Please note that more than any other crime, sexual abuse and rape are serious crimes against human rights. Only by seriously revealing the truth can the good name of the Armed Forces be restored.

SUSANTO

Jakarta