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                  Indonesian Ministers Rape Comments Draw Ire

   by Kate Lamb

   In Indonesia, the alleged kidnapping and rape of a girl has drawn
   international headlines for how she has been treated by school and
   government officials. Activists say the case reveals long-standing
   shortcomings in how authorities respond to violence against women.
   Late last month a 14-year-old girl living on the outskirts of Jakarta
   was alleged to have been abducted, held captive and repeatedly raped by
   several men for a week. She was subsequently expelled for bringing
   shame upon her school.
   But the girl's nightmare did not end there.
   Indonesia Education Minister Mohammad Nuh drew more attention to the
   case after telling reporters last week that rape is sometimes the fault
   of the victim. The minister said sometimes rape participants "do it for
   fun ... then the girl alleges it's rape."
   The comment provoked a flurry of criticism and a demand from the girl's
   mother for an apology. But the minister has refused, saying his
   comments were taken out of context.
   On Wednesday education ministry spokesperson Ibnu Hamad told VOA the
   minister was only making a general comment about rape.
    Hamad says the minister was referring to what he says are many cases
   of rape that are later proven to be otherwise.
   The minister is reported to have issued an apology to online media, but
   has declined to issue an apology to the alleged rape victim and her
   family.
   Activists have lashed out against the minister's comments, saying they
   could have some bearing on the case.
   If charged with rape, the perpetrator faces a maximum 15 years in
   jail.  But if the sex is proven to be consensual, the perpetrator faces
   a maximum seven-year sentence on the abduction charge.
   Police are still investigating.
   Andi Yetriyani from the National Commission of Violence Against Women
   says this is not the first time a government minister has been under
   pressure to retract controversial statements about women.
   "We are very concerned because the statement made by the minister of
   education is not the first time similar comments have been conducted by
   other ministers," Yetriyani said. "It does show the level of
   understanding on the violence against women in the state and among the
   state apparatus. We believe that victimization, blaming the victim as
   well the culture of denial of responsibility from the state for the
   recovery of the victims is still widespread."
   Late last year, then-Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo urged women to stop
   wearing mini skirts on public transport if they wanted to avoid rape.
   Following the public outrage generated by this case, the 14-year-old
   girl from Depok has been permitted to return to school.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/indonesian-ministers-rape-comments-dr
   aw-ire/1527985.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/indonesian-ministers-rape-comments-draw-ire/1527985.html