Indonesian woman’s death after alleged rape and abortion fuels calls for tough laws against sexual violence, police reform
- Novia Widyasari’s death caused online outrage and calls for justice, while her policeman boyfriend was arrested for being involved in an abortion
- Activists say there is a state of emergency over violence against women in Indonesia, calling on lawmakers to pass a long-awaited sexual violence eradication bill
On Thursday, Novia Widyasari, 23, was found dead next to her father’s grave in Mojokerto regency, East Java, after apparently poisoning herself with potassium, local police said. Her death went viral on Indonesian Twitter on Friday, after a user claiming to be her friend shared the deceased’s story in a string of now-deleted tweets.
According to screenshots of the tweets seen by This Week in Asia, the friend claimed that Novia had been taken to an inn by Randy Bagus, her then-boyfriend, where she was forced to consume a drink laced with a drug that made her fall asleep.
Four months later, Novia discovered she was pregnant. Her boyfriend told her to get an abortion, and his parents said their son could not get married as this would get in the way of his career. He allegedly forced Novia to take four pills to abort the pregnancy. She was later hospitalised for abortion-induced pain, and after being discharged, became depressed and suicidal, the thread claimed.
The tweets spawned a number of hashtags demanding justice, including #JusticeForNoviaWidyasari and #SaveNoviaWidyasari. Indonesians also sprang into action – safe spaces were offered for female victims of domestic abuse and lawyers offered free services. Meanwhile, hackers defaced the website of the General Election Commission’s East Java branch with a picture of Novia’s body next to her father’s grave.
“We want justice for the deceased. She was psychologically murdered, her pride cast aside and her honour snatched away. She is a victim of sexual violence!!!” said one Twitter user.