State-run 'TVRI' mulls showing rapists' photos to the public

JAKARTA (JP): Director General for Radio, Television and Film Alex Leo Zulkarnaen thinks the idea of broadcasting the names and photographs of rapists on state-run television TVRI is worth looking into.

Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi recently suggested that television play a role in the prevention of rape by pillorying rapists in broadcasts.

The chairperson of the Indonesian Women's Congress, Enny Busiri, echoed her suggestion earlier this week.

Zulkarnaen told Antara news agency yesterday that, "It is possible that TVRI will show the rapists to the public, but we need time to weigh the positive and negative aspects."

Zulkarnaen expressed concern that the broadcasting of the rapists' identity could have a negative impact on the victim.

A few years ago, when the attorney general proposed that TVRI show the photographs of corruptors on TV, the Ministry of Information and the Attorney General's Office discussed the matter thoroughly before they agreed to the idea.

The Attorney General's Office has said that a number of corruptors turned themselves in because they were afraid their pictures would appear on TV.

Data released by the city police in 1990 showed that a rape occurred once every five hours.

Under the Criminal Code, which is being amended, a rapist is subject to a maximum of 12 years imprisonment. The law sets the minimum jail term at three years.

The Indonesian Women's Congress, which proposes the death sentence for rapists, fully supports the idea of pillorying rapists by exposing their faces on TV.

But like Zulkarnaen, the congress' chairperson is more concerned with the situation of the victims. She said her organization plans to set up a rape counseling center.

Kalyanamitra, a feminist group, which also supports the idea of showing rapists on TV, said this would represent "social punishment." The organization also believes that rapists should receive harsher prison sentences than currently meted out. (sim)