GANG RAPE CASE RENEWS DEMAND FOR GELDING PUNISHMENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 7 (Antara) - The recent horrific case of gang rape and death of a 14-year old, YY, by 14 teenagers in the Rejanglebong District, Bangkulu Province, has once again triggered demands to mete out the punishment of castration to convicted rapists and pedophiles.          Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Puan Maharani condemned the sexual assault and asked law enforcers to punish the offenders as heavily as possible.     "The government has prepared a draft regulation in lieu of Perppu UU 35/2014 on child protection that includes additional punishment of castration for those found guilty of sexual violence against children," Puan was quoted as saying by republika.co.id last Wednesday (May 4).          Purwakarta District Head Dedi Mulyadi was also quoted by republika.co.id as having expressed concern over the Rejanglebong gang rape case.          "YY was raped by 14 teenagers. In order to prevent recurrence of such cases, abusers should be rendered gelding punishment,"  Dedi stated.

INDONESIA CONSIDERING CASTRATING CHILD SEX OFFENDERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 22 (Antara) - Indonesia is planning to impose castration punishment on child rapists, or pedophiles, in a bid to combat the alarming rise in the cases of sexual violence against children in the country.          The government is still studying the legal aspect of adopting policies or a government regulation in lieu of the law on imposing gelding punishment on child sex abusers.           Relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Women and Children Empowerment, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, non-governmental organizations, and other related agencies are studying the matter.         "We are studying the legal aspect of imposing castration punishment on child rapists before we decide to issue a regulation on it," Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly stated after attending the opening of the ASEAN Law Ministers' Meeting (ALAWMM) in Bali on Thursday.           The punishment can be imparted through various approaches to reduce the libido of the offenders, such as libido neurosurgery and injections. Castration does not necessarily mean the removal of the testicles of the offenders.          Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa stated that the discourse on the imposition of a gelding punishment through a libido neurosurgery surfaced as part of the efforts to protect children from sexual abuse.