Singers protest sexual harassment

Singers protest sexual harassment

TANGERANG (JP): Over 125 female singers from a karaoke singing
hall have sought legal advice from the legal aid institute here
after a number of the girls were sexually assaulted by a mob
protesting outside the night spot on Sept. 19.

Model singing hall's manager, Alex, who accompanied the
singers to the office, said three of his employees were molested
by members of the 150-strong mob which staged the midnight
protest.

Two others had their jewelry stolen during the rally, which
was led by someone called Edy Sulaiman, Alex said.

The victims said their breasts were repeatedly grabbed at by
protesters who had forced their way into the entertainment spot.

Besides that, the moral mob hurled abuse at the girls and
decried them as prostitutes, lawyers were told at the Unis Legal
Aid Institute on Thursday.

"As manager, I have the duty to protect my staff," Alex said.

"The case was reported to the Tangerang police on Sept. 21,"
he added.

The protesters sparked fear across the municipality after
gathering outside the singing hall at midnight and insinuating
that it was a den of prostitution and drugs.

Alex said the mob damaged the singing hall and destroyed a car
belonged to a visitor during the demonstration.

Alex also said that he saw Edy sitting in his car outside the
singing hall when the incident occurred.

Edy, the group's leader, was given a four-ton consignment of
food by the singing hall shortly before the protest. The food was
supposed to go to help the poor.

"We gave him the aid package as he requested. Edy said he
would distribute the rice among needy people, but we were never
informed about to whom and when the rice was given out," Alex
added.

"If Edy thought this singing hall was a brothel, why did he
ask us for rice to give to the poor, orphans and Islamic boarding
schools.

"He accepted the package, then ruined this place," Alex
explained.

Edy Sulaiman, who often leads groups of people in protests
against Tangerang night spots, could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile Edi Musa, a lawyer at the institute, said he would
look into the case further, adding that theft and sexual assault
were crimes under the law of the land. (41/jun)