Rape victims' counselor killed

Rape victims' counselor killed

JAKARTA (JP): A Volunteers for Humanity activist working with
rape victims of the May riots was found dead at her Central
Jakarta house on Friday evening.

The victim, identified as Martadinata and popularly known as
Ita, 18, was found with her neck slashed and stab wounds on her
hands, abdomen and chest.

"Ita's body was discovered by my husband at about 6 p.m. in
her room on the second floor," Wiwin, Ita's mother, said calmly.
Her husband, Leo Haryono, was visibly shocked over their
daughter's murder.

Wiwin believed the murderers entered the house on Jl. Berlian
through one of the doors, which was found damaged. There were no
witnesses to the incident.

Lt. Col. Iman Harjatna, head of the Central Jakarta Police
Precinct, arrived at the scene soon after the police were
notified. He said there were no signs that the murder was related
to a robbery since none of the family's belongings was missing.

"We'll investigate it thoroughly," he said, refusing to
comment any further.

When asked whether the murder could have been connected to the
fact that Ita had volunteered to help rape victims of the May
riots, Iman only remained silent.

Several activists helping rape victims of the May riots have
complained that groups of individuals have tried to use terror
tactics to force an end to their involvement in trying to
disclose information relating to the cases.

Guests coming to the house to convey their condolences
included Sandyawan Sumardi and Karlina Leksono-Supelli of the
Volunteers for Humanity and Ita Fatia Nadia of Kalyana Mitra.

Sandyawan, a priest who runs the Jakarta Social Institute
which provides services for the urban poor, declined to comment
extensively on the incident.

"Whether or not the killing had something to do with the
terror (tactics), just wait and see," he said.

Ita, a student of Paskalis Catholic senior high school, had
reportedly been active with her mother in counseling four rape
victims.

Her body was sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for a
postmortem examination.

Rita, one of the victim's neighbors, said Ita was the
friendliest member of the family.

The family lived in a residential area in which few of the
residents knew each other well.

"She just had asked my daughter for one of the two loris
bought by my daughter three days ago. Unfortunately, the one she
asked for died today. Perhaps the animal and Ita have already
found each other," Rita said. (emf/hhr)