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)