Indonesian rape counsellor murdered

Indonesian rape counsellor murdered

A young activist working as a counsellor for ethnic Chinese women raped during Indonesia's May riots was found murdered in her home in central Jakarta on October 9.

The Jakarta Post said Martadinata (Ita) Haryono, 18, had worked for Volunteers for Humanity, one of the rights groups which first made public the fact that ethnic Chinese women and girls had been gang raped during the May 13-14 riots.

According to the Post, Lieutenant Colonel Imam Harjatna, head of the central Jakarta police precinct, remained silent when asked if he thought the murder was connected with the victim's counselling work.

Several volunteers and other human rights groups working for the victims have said they have been threatened by mysterious phone calls against disclosing the facts behind the rapes. Top government figures continue to maintain the rapes never happened.

From GLW issue 337