Radio broadcaster ignorant about rape

I am writing in reference to a talk show on the radio station Jakarta News FM 97.4 at 7 p.m. on Jan. 30. Its topic was a recent rape case in a taxi.

The woman broadcaster mentioned the rapist was a father of five. The broadcaster's co-host on the talk show, a man named Dono, asked his colleague if the rapist had a daughter. Although the woman did not know, Dono said that if the man had a daughter he would not have thought about committing the act.

Dono's comment sounded strange to me and his following comments lacked logic.

He said that if a wife was raped, a husband would only have to divorce her. What about a daughter? Would he abandon her?

Does a wife who is a rape victim deserve to be divorced? She is already the victim of a violent act -- and then her husband divorces her? What is the basis for his thoughts? He may not be aware of it, but he denigrates women. Rapists often have a similar way of thinking, that they can act in whatever way they want toward a woman. It was strange that Dono's fellow broadcaster, a woman, did not question the matter.

I hope that radio broadcasters and radio stations can participate in forming a healthy public opinion toward women. They should not disparage women.

My letter is at the same time a strong protest against Dono on Jakarta News FM 97.4.

AMIR SIDHARTA

Jakarta