Indonesia seeks to classify child sex abuse as extraordinary crime

Indonesia is stepping closer to categorize child sex assault as an extraordinary crime, which already included terrorism, corruption and drug abuse.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta called on the police and related state institutions to take firm actions in order to give detterent effect to child sex offenders.

"I want child sex abuse to be classified as an extraordinary crime so that handling it extraordinary as well," a statement from the Cabinet Secretary said on Tuesday.

The statement hinted at the president's approval or a likely issuance of a presidential decree in lieu of law specifically protecting women from violence.

The address came up following a court sentence for seven Indonesian teenagers, aged 16 and 17, who brutally murdered and gang raped a 14-year-old girl in Bengkulu, South Sumatra.

They were among seven other young men who attacked the girl while she was walking home from school on April 2. Three days later, her battered body was found in bushes all tied up and naked.

The police have arrested 12 suspects, while the others are still on the run.

The harrowing case erupted calls from a coalition of NGOs for the government into passing a bill to reform sentencing and improve victim services, dubbed as the Violence Against Women Bill.

Activists in Indonesia have also suggested for harsher punishment, including the use of chemical castration for repeat sexual offenders. Endit