Pedophiles and child rapists may soon be subject to harsh penalties, including chemical castration and the death penalty, with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo having decided on Wednesday to issue a tough new regulation against sex crimes.

Jokowi gave his consent for the issuance of a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) which will serve as a new legal basis to deter people from committing sex crimes against children, ordering officials to finalize the draft immediately after he announced the sexual abuse of children as an extraordinary crime “that also needs extraordinary measures”.

The government expects the House of Representatives to approve the Perppu, which will introduce a maximum sentence of 20 years, lifetime imprisonment, while those found guilty of committing premeditated murder after committing a sexual crime against a child may face a death sentence.

The existing Child Protection Law was revised in 2014, but the amendment sanctions a maximum 15-year term of imprisonment for rapists, as stipulated in Article 81, and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for the murderer of a child.

The Perppu will also impose chemical castration for convicted pedophiles and child rapists, another controversial sanction.

“It [chemical castration] can be given [to the convict] during or after serving a prison sentence,” Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said.

He later ensured that chemical castration would not be a compulsory measure, saying that the court would determine first whether or not such a sanction should be imposed.

The government is also mulling over a plan to enforce ankle monitors containing tracking chips for convicted pedophiles and child rapists post prison term and imposing further social sanction by publishing their identity to the public.

However, opposition to the Perppu, particularly with regard to chemical castration and the death penalty, was voiced on Wednesday by a number of rights activists whom deem the the sanction an unsatisfactory solution to reducing case numbers. Activists argued that, even in the countries where chemical castration has been implemented, questions have been raised about whether or not the measure had worked as a deterrent.

“Castration is not a solution. We believe that it will extend the chain of sexual abuse […], because it is also a form of sexual torture,” said Lathiefah Widuri Retyaningtyas, an activist from the Perempuan Mahardhika group.

Deputy chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence against Woman (Komnas Perempuan), Yuniyanti Chuzaifah, also voiced similar concern, questioning why the government should focus punishment on the “genital organ of perpetrators of sexual violence when the problem is actually in their heads?”

Both Komnas Perempuan and Perempuan Mahardhika argue that, rather than ratifying the castration regulation, it would be better to have the House of Representatives deliberate the anti-sexual violence bill which they claim stipulates both punishment and rehabilitation for perpetrators, recovery for victims and also restitution.

Deputy Chairman of the House Commission VIII overseeing religion and social affairs Ledia Hanifa Amaliah signaled that, although the bill has been listed on the 2016 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), the commission was still busy deliberating other bills.

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani said the decision was made after numerous ministers and officials, including the religious affairs minister, health minister and KPAI, reviewed the plan thoroughly. (wnd)

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