About 'Soft Thighs' Twit, Rahayu Saraswati: There is no tolerance for sexual harassment

JAKARTA - The cadre of the Democratic Party, Cipta Panca Laksana, threw a statement that looked like harassing one of the candidates for deputy mayor of South Tangerang. This statement was made via his Twitter account @panca66 on Friday, 4 September.

"The thighs of the deputy mayor candidate of Tangsel are very smooth," he wrote.

Even though they did not mention names, one of the deputy mayors is Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo (Sara).

People immediately commented on the statement. One of them is the politician from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), Tsamara Amany. According to her, this statement is shamelessly insulting and unethical because it does not respect women.

Sara is a cadre of the Gerindra Party who is running as a candidate for deputy mayor of South Tangerang and is paired with Muhammad.

"Instead of judging or criticizing @RahayuSaraswati from her track record and performance, he is busy looking for ways to harass," said Tsamara via her Twitter account @TsamaraDKI.

Meanwhile, Sara admitted that she was disappointed because he is a senior political figure who should provide an example for the community to objectify a candidate for the regional head.

"Yes, it was said that he didn't mention any names. So, he could only mean other candidates, who are all male. Maybe. But my attitude is clear. There is no tolerance for verbal sexual harassment," said Sara in a written statement, Saturday, September 5.

According to Sara, currently, too many women have experienced and tolerated sexual harassment. It, she said, must be stopped.

"As an activist for women and children, I regret this incident. The perpetrators must know that it does not elevate the status of women, but injures the dignity of women. Especially female athletes," she said.

"People could judge me, but I take the side with the sexual harassment victims. They shouldn't face this problem alone. There must be educated to improve attitudes," said the nephew of the Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto.

Rana Baswedan, the Ambassador of Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo (RSD), also responded to this tweet for women's issues.  According to Rana, this kind of harassment must be fought because women have their authority. Including wearing clothes that are appropriate for their activities. Sara is no exception. 

Rana also reminded Cipta Panca that he should think twice before tweeting the harassment statement.

"What if the harassment happens to the people around him? Regardless of the possible intention to weaken their political opponents," she said. 

So she thinks that sexual harassment like this should be erased because it is a criminal act.

Saraswati has been known to be critical of sexual harassment issues. When she was a member of the Indonesian Parliament on Commission VIII, she always campaigned for the bill on the Elimination of Sexual Violence. This bill, she said, could protect women.

She also recently expressed her hope that the tough discussion legislation would soon be passed. It was conveyed after visiting a woman with the initials S, who lives in the Ciputat area, South Tangerang. The 38-year-old woman became a victim of sexual harassment.

"Hopefully the Bill will be passed soon. I think this is very much needed. So, the perpetrators of sexual harassment do not come off easily," said Sara after meeting with S.