'Yes' to abortion

I briefly glanced at "Your Letters" column of Sept. 26. And something did bother me. Why should abortion not be legalized in Indonesia?

I do not know anything about Laws No. 3/1992 and No. 10/1992. Nonetheless, I think that abortion is also an important part of human rights, as is having sex. (More than that. Sex is natural).

I personally think, and for good reasons, that sometimes babies should best stay unborn and that women have the right to decide if and when to give birth. It is their body, their emotions, their commitments, and most of all, it is their life.

Women should be able to decide what is best for them. After all, it would not be fair to an unborn child to bring him, or, her, into this world when there are no guarantees about his or her future.

It is a shame to see some school-age children running around town selling newspapers or hanging out in streets at night. They should go to school and be home in the evening, enjoying loving care and attention from their families.

I am not saying that the mothers of neglected children should have aborted them. But do we want to see more and more Indonesian children abandoned?

Under such circumstances, do we still depend on religion or do we depend on law? How about applicable options?

RITA SOEMARNO

Jakarta