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

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)