Bengkulu (Antara Bali) - Indonesia is mourning the loss of 14-year-old Yuyun who died after being raped by 14 teenagers in Rejanglebong District, Bengkulu Province, Womens Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise stated.
"Indonesia is mourning. This case has shocked the state. I think such a case has happened for the first time in Indonesia," Minister Yembise stated while visiting the family of Yuyun, some 117 kilometers from Bengkulu City, on Thursday.
The minister was greeted by Yuyuns parents and brothers.
Accompanied by Bengkulu Governor Ridwan Mukti, the minister offered assistance and expressed her deepest condolences to the family of the eighth grader.
Yembise said she had received the news of the sexual crime from her son who studies in Britain.
Of the 14 rapists, two are still at large, while 12 have been detained, including seven under 18 years of age or considered juvenile under the Indonesian law, so they cannot be jailed for life but can only be awarded a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Those above 18 years of age could face a maximum punishment of life sentence for a gang rape that claimed the victims life.
The minister reminded parents to always protect their children, particularly females.
"After returning from here, I will launch a national movement for men to protect women and children as the perpetrators of violence against women and children are mostly males," she emphasized.
The seven juvenile suspects are identified by the initials D alias J (17), A (17), FS (17), S (17), DI (17), EG (16), and S (16).
The minister affirmed that their parents can also be punished if they are proven of covering up their childrens crimes.
The five other arrested suspects are TW (19), Sk (19), Bb (20), Fs (19), and Zl (23).
There is public outcry across the country, demanding death penalty for the perpetrators. (WDY)
