Approaches differ on reducing rapes in Jakarta

A lawmaker is criticizing the police for not preventing sexual assault and rapes after several rapes were reported on public transportation minivans in Jakarta.

“Our police officers are only acting like fire fighters right now, meaning they only show up whenever there is a case. This has been their substantial failure in handling the problem,” Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Eva Kusuma Sundari told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, University of Indonesia criminologist Bambang Widodo Umar said that the police needed to bolster community groups to improve public safety.

“The police should approach these groups, enable them to recognize that as member of society, we have a social obligation to watch each other’s back,” he said.

Separately, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that officers were working “all out” to improve the safety of women and the community.

“We have approached many groups and told them to take necessary precautions before doing anything with a high risk. But we must live with the fact that there are people out there with bad intentions, waiting for the right moment to do bad things,” he said.