Plight of Sasak women

I am writing concerning the article published in The Jakarta Post on Saturday, Jan. 12 about the plight of the Sasak women of Lombok. I was disgusted and outraged to learn of the grave injustices suffered by the women in West Nusa Tenggara. Domestic violence is one of the most problematic (and least prosecuted) crimes in Indonesia. I was greatly saddened and frustrated to learn that these assaults are virtually ignored by law officials. As Lombok is part of Indonesia, one would logically conclude that the government would be obliged to take action against the human rights violations in West Nusa Tenggara.

Apparently the government operates outside the realm of logic. The government cannot think in terms of humanity, but knows only the vocabulary of financial gain. If there is no money to be made, then no justice shall be served. As there appears to be no hope of stopping this brutality against women from the top down, I can only pray that women's rights will be actively pursued from the bottom up by grassroots organizations. However, it is essential that action fighting domestic violence and crime against women be implemented on all levels, especially by local and national authorities. This is necessary not only for the purpose of persecution of the perpetrators, but also to establish a society in which such atrocities are not socially acceptable. Only then will progress toward gender equality be made.

ALLISON HAWLEY

Medan, North Sumatra