"MUI also urges legal enforcers to impose harsh punishment on sexual offenders. It is meant to act as a deterrent to perpetrators," MUI Secretary General Anwar Abbas said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has lauded a proposal of Vice President M Jusuf Kalla on the needs to block pornographic sites on the Internet and restrict alcohol distribution.

"MUI appreciates the governments measures disclosed by Vice President M Jusuf Kalla that negative or pornographic sites will be closed, and alcoholic beverages will be controlled," MUI Secretary General Anwar Abbas said here Saturday.

Without blocking pornographic websites, it would be very difficult for the government to protect the public from sexual violence, he said.

"MUI also urges legal enforcers to impose harsh punishment on sexual offenders. It is meant to act as a deterrent to perpetrators," he stated.

He also urged the government to expedite the issuance of a government regulation en lieu of law on the protection of children from sexual violence.

"MUI is very much concerned over the increasing number of sexual violence cases against children. It is very saddening for a civilized and religious nation," he noted.

There are no better ways than blocking pornographic sites and restricting alcohol sale, he remarked.

The government must address pornographic and alcohol problems which are believed to have encouraged sexual violence against children, Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said.

"Nearly everyone has understood that one of the effects of technological progress is giving children access to pornographic content on the Internet, and second, such cases are almost always involve alcohol. So, those main causes must be addressed," Kalla said Friday.

He ordered blocking of pornographic sites and restricting alcohol sales, in addition to imposing severe punishment against sexual offenders.

The Indonesian Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) recorded that during the 2010-2014 period, there were 21,869,797 cases of violation of childrens rights across the countrys 179 districts and cities in the 34 provinces.

Of the total cases, 42 to 67 percent were sex crimes against children.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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