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Rights commission calls for abolition of chemical castration plan for rapists
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Suspects – Sorong Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edfrie Richard Maith (standing, second from left) shows evidence related to the rape and murder of a 5-year-old child, identified by the initials KM, at a press conference at the Sorong Police office in Sorong City, Sorong, West Papua, on Jan.12. The three alleged perpetrators were presented at the press conference. (Antara/Olha Mulalinda)
T
he government needs to re-evaluate the possible use of chemical castration on those who commit sex crimes against children, as regulated in the newly passed 2016 Child Protection Law, which will be used for the first time to try an underage rape case in Sorong, Papua, a human rights activist has said.
National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) chair Imdadun Rahmat said that although rape was a disgraceful act, the government needed to conduct a thorough review as to whether chemical castration would deter rapists and stop people from committing the heinous crime.
“Komnas HAM believes that chemical castration is against the principle of human rights. We believe that there are still many other alternative, more humane punishments,” he said on the sidelines of the rights body’s year-end press conference in Jakarta, Tuesday.
He made the statement in response to growing concern as to whether such a harsh punishment would be justifiable used against the three suspects of the alleged rape and murder of a young child in Sorong.
The toddler was found dead in a mud hole in a swamp near the Domine Osok Airport runway in Sorong last Tuesday after she had been reported missing.
The Sorong Police found indications that the three suspects, identified as Donald Wanggaimo, Lewi Gogoba and Nando Kinombae, were the victim's neighbors. They allegedly kidnapped her while her parents were not at home.
Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise has called on law enforcers to implement the 2016 Child Protection Law as a deterrent.
Yohana, who visited Sorong in the aftermath of the tragedy, said the police had agreed with her suggestion to use the law amid mounting calls from local residents for the suspects to receive the harshest possible punishment if proven guilty. (ebf)
