Rapes and evidence
According to several statements made within the last few days concerning gang rapes during the May riots, the following seems to be the situation. The police are having difficulty investigating the allegations of rape and sexual assault because so far they have not found any supporting evidence. To date, not a single woman has come forward and reported being raped, and hospitals in Singapore and Jakarta have been unable to provide records of having treated rape victims.
Because of the lack of evidence, two high ranking officers, Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi and Lt. Gen. Moetojib, have strongly questioned if the rapes did indeed take place. On the other hand, non-governmental organization (NGO) activists have assured the public on many occasions that they are in possession of substantial evidence which proves that at least 168 women of Chinese descent were brutally gang raped during the May unrest.
President Habibie wants to invite foreign intelligence agents from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the U.S. to Indonesia to examine the reports of systematic gang rapes. But members of parliament and the chairman of the fact-finding team investigating the riots, Marzuki Darusman, are opposed to the idea. Why?
In order to solve the rape cases as soon as possible, shouldn't the investigators welcome any help they can get? One more question: Why do the NGOs not cooperate with the police and provide them with the evidence they need to make a case? Instead of cooperating, both sides are wasting time leveling accusations of dishonesty at each other.
Hearing or reading only general or unproven statements, people might start to question whether the rapes ever took place.
Family members, friends, NGOs and the media should encourage rape victims to come forward -- despite shame, fear, trauma and threats -- and testify, because this is the only way to bring the perpetrators to justice. A trial based only on the testimony of witnesses will bring no rapist to justice, I am afraid.
In a situation like this, honesty and transparency should be the first concern on all sides.
MRS. HILDE MAY
Jakarta