Indonesian
President Joko Widodo has defended the introduction of castration and the death
penalty for paedophiles.
His
parliament last week voted to introduce the tough new measures and the leader has
spoken of the country's 'no compromise' approach to sex crimes.
'Our
constitution respects human rights, but when it comes to sexual crimes there is
no compromise.
'In
my opinion, chemical castration, if we enforce it consistently, will reduce sex
crimes and wipe them out over time,' he said.
The
emergency decree was introduced following an outcry in the aftermath of the
fatal gang-rape of a schoolgirl.
Widodo
defended introducing chemical castration, a decision that has sparked anger
from human rights activists and the Indonesian Doctors Association, which has
said its members will not perform the treatment.
He
told the BBC the government 'will hand out the maximum penalty' for sex
crimes.
Twelve
of the men accused of raping and murdering a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Bengkulu
Province, Indonesia in April were seen hiding their faces as they emerged from
a police cell guided by a plain clothed officer.
Yuyun (above right in a family photograph released by her mother) was walking home from school when she was killed |
Indonesia
is among a small group of places worldwide which use the measure, including
Poland and some states in the USA.
In
2011 South Korea became the first Asian country to legalise the treatment.
Chemical
castration involves using drugs to reduce libido and sex drive.
She
was set upon by a gang of drunken men and boys as she walked home from school
on the western island of Sumatra.
The
leader of the gang was sentenced to death last month after being found guilty
of premeditated murder, a crime already punishable by death before the new laws
were introduced.
Other
members of the gang have been jailed.
Source: GARETH DAVIES FOR MAILONLINE
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