Pornography and rape
Pornography and rape
From Suara Karya
Recent sexual violence cases are not unrelated to the
influence of pornographic films which circulate freely in the
community.
One offender admitted that he raped Mrs. S. in South Jakarta
some time ago as his sexual desire was aroused after he had
watched a pornographic film on VCD. A similar case happened a few
years ago when a small boy violated a small girl after he had
seen a film with hot scenes. His confession at the court trial
was similar to the case mentioned earlier.
Which side is responsible? If artists in such films are
questioned, they will instantly reject the accusation that
pornographic films have triggered sex crimes. They will say that
the matter of aroused passions depends on the individual. The
artists making the films will invariably say that they performed
within reasonable limits. Many excuses and justifications can be
put forward, but the facts show that rape cases are frequent and
the offenders often say that their sexual desires go haywire
after viewing pornographic films.
We cannot put our hopes on artists to refuse to perform in
pornographic films, because it is their livelihood. It is exactly
like prostitution. We cannot prohibit someone from practicing
prostitution if that is the only work available to them.
Our hope goes to the law enforcing apparatus to act firmly and
speedily to wipe out the circulation of pornographic films, both
wide screen films and VCDs, which are for sale in the markets.
Pornographic films demolish the moral and mental makeup of the
younger generation. The films will only invite the devil. We must
remember that the colonization of this country is not only
physical but also cultural. Some people have changed film art
into a disease so that films which should have cultural
properties are modified into a bane. Traders of pornographic
films, books, and calendars show no remorse after the police have
taken measures against them. If such cases are repeated, and the
traders remain unrepentant, the question to be asked should be,
"Have those traders escaped the attention of the police?"
NANI
Bekasi, West Java