Violence against women increasing, police say

Violence against women increasing, police say

JAKARTA (JP): The number of crimes committed against women in
Indonesia increases every year, according to Col. Achwil Lutan,
the deputy director of National Police's Directorate for Crime
Investigation.

At a seminar on violence against women yesterday, Achwil
reported that 2,300 cases of sexual violence against women were
recorded in 1992. In the following year, 3,200 cases were
recorded and the first half of 1994 saw 3,000 cases, he said.

He pointed out that disciplinary measures alone will not
eliminate the brutality women face. A number of sociological and
psychological factors behind the violence should also be
addressed, he said.

He put part of the blame on Indonesian culture, which places
men in dominant roles over women.

Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi said in the first
session of Wednesday's workshop that rapists should be sternly
punished to help curb the sexual violence against women that is
pervasive in Indonesian society.

Achwil also called for strong public support to combat crime
in general, which increasingly threatens the public's sense of
security.

"Without full support from the public, the police won't be
able to curb the growing number of crimes," he said.

He called on non-governmental organizations, social
organizations and individuals to help the government and Armed
Forces fight crime and violence.

"The public can help by launching an anti-crime campaign, side
by side with the government, which is determined to take strict
measures against criminals, including street hoodlums," he said.

He also called on the public to minimize their risk of being
victimized, by not, for example, leaving their house unguarded,
walking alone at night or wearing expensive accessories in
crowded places.

According to National Police statistics, the number of crimes
has significantly increased from around 76,500 cases in 1993,
with 1,600 of the victims killed, to almost 87,000, out of which
1,500 were killed in 1994.

Achwil pointed out that the police themselves have had to
contend with various resources problems, including the shortages
of personnel and facilities.

He said that the number of police officers in Indonesia is
small compared to the whole population. The ratio between police
officers and the population is 1:1,350.

He cited Japan and Singapore as having the ideal ratio, with
one policeman serving from 350 to 500 people.

Achwil blamed a host of social problems as causing the
increased crime rate. Urbanization, the high rate of unemployment
and widening social gaps all contribute to the condition, he
said.

The ongoing police campaign against hoodlums may be beneficial
to suppress crimes, he said, but its "shock therapy" effect will
only be temporary unless the authorities deal with the basic
causes of crimes, one of which is migration.

"It is police duty to deal with crime and criminals, but
urbanization and unemployment are problems for all of us to cope
with," he said. (rms)