Torajan extend protest over virginity remarks

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Thousands of people from the scenic Tana Toraja regency continued with their protest yesterday against a religious affairs official's allegation that "96 percent" of their high school students have lost their virginity to foreign tourists.

Some 3,500 students and community leaders marched to the provincial legislative council here to protest the slanderous remarks and demand that the official, Karimuddin, be brought to court.

They also waged a demonstration at the local bureau of the Jakarta-based Pelita daily which reported Karimuddin's statement, made without a prior survey, that Tana Toraja schoolgirls like messing around with foreign tourists.

Wearing black headbands, the protesters demanded that the government revoke the daily's license.

"The daily's apology is not enough. We're already hurt," said one of the protesters.

In Jakarta, a similar demonstration involving about 50 people of Tana Toraja origin also took place at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Information.

Chief of the Wirabuana regional military command Maj. Gen. Sulatin said in his capacity as chief of the local chapter of the Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability that he has instructed the police, religious leaders, information officials as well as officials of related agencies to seek Karimuddin out.

"He should face some legal process," Sulatin said.

Sulatin, however, called on the public and religious leaders to engage in self-restraint and not go too far in their protest.

Head of the provincial tourism office Moh. Aib Ramenung also expressed outrage over Karimuddin's statement that the girls lose their virginity while working part time as guides.

"Not one student in Tana Toraja works as a guide. This is a tough profession, not something one can do in spare time," he said. (20/swe)