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Indonesia fights Sexual and Commercial Exploitation of Children in Tourism


Monday July 31, 2006

TPI TV on 28 July evening showed an investigative report on the arrest of an alleged pedophile on the island of Lombok . The Australian national, whom Police reported was named “Don” had allegedly molested 5 boys. Besides writing for the Lombok Times, Don was also General Manager of a beach hotel on the island.

 

 

With the enactment of Law No. 23 of 2002 on the Crime of Sexual and Commercial Exploitation of Women and Children, Indonesian Police now have a strong legal basis to arrest predators. With this Law (Parliamentary Act), proven criminals are punishable with up to a 15-years jail term.  The District Court in Bali had already convicted a pedophile with 12 years in jail.

 

 

According to the story, Don had lured the boys into his hotel room with promises of,  - for the boys coming from poor parents, -  luxurious presents such as hand phones. Luring them to his room, Don abused them one by one. Don then told the boys to sneak into his room through the window to take the cell phones, - which they did.  But, on sneaking in, they were caught by the hotel’s security and handed to the police for breaking in. But the boys had another story to tell the Police.

 

 

After thorough investigation, Police found evidence that Don had indeed abused the boys, which Don and his lawyer promptly denied. But Don was consequently arrested and is now awaiting trial.

 

 

Further, according to TPI, Australian Police were called in, who confirmed that Don was a convicted pedophile who had fled after finishing his sentence. 

 

 

“This is just the tip of the iceberg”, said a spokesperson of the NGO Yayasan Tunas Alam. For, ever since Lombok grew as a tourist destination, more than 100 boys have been lured with promises. Seventeen foreign pedophiles have been identified by this NGO, with more than half being Australian nationals.

 

 

To fight sexual and commercial exploitation of Children in Tourism, the Department of Culture and Tourism, supported by the Australian government and ChildWise NGO of Australia, will activate the campaign against this crime within the purview of Tourism stakeholders, at a Business Breakfast on 3 August at the Mercure Hotel at Jalan Hayam Wuruk in Jakarta .