A few months ago, Dewi told me about a girl, who I will call "Putu Sri", but it is not her real name. Putu is a girl that hangs around the house of Dewi's parents a lot, and often comes with our family to ceremonies or "happenings". Her parents are divorced, and her real mother has gone. Her father lives in her house, but her grandmother, neighbor of Dewi's parents, is the actual caretaker.
Putu Sri had her first period, and she was only 10 years old. Dewi was surprised that a girl at that age could already start menstruation.
Yesterday Dewi told me again about Putu Sri. Her period took very long this time, and Dewi wanted to help. She took Putu to the "bidan" for a examination. A bidan is a midwife, you find plenty of those around in the villages.
During talks with Putu, and the examination of the bidan, it became clear that this was no ordinary period. Her vagina was "damaged". Putu told about men from the village who had sex with her. She was paid 5.000 rupiah for it. 10 years old. (actually one of her family members told later, 2 x 5.000 and 1x 10.000)
Dewi called me and asked me for advice. I told her that this was a case for the police, but she was reluctant to take action, and asked me to come to the village. Dewi was not convinced right away about what Putu Sri was telling. I had a small chat with Putu, and was convinced that she spoke the truth. "It" had been happening the last few months, and at first sight it seemed that Putu Sri had gone voluntary with the men. Yes, plural. But it was only this specific guy that hurt her.
I said that allthough it wasn't rape, its still very illegal, and Putu was too young to make choices. It had to be reported to the police. We asked the grandmother, who was with Putu if she wanted to report it. After some persuasion she wanted to. Dewi called a police officer she knows from the village, to find out how and where. He asked about the situation and gave a phone number.
Dewi called, and the police officer said that the direct family had to report it to the station. The grandmother said that she wanted to consult the family before doing this, and she went.
15 minutes later the grandmother came back and told us that they wanted to find a solution within the family and the village first. Fine I said, and I went directly to the Kepala Dusun. (A Kepala Dusun is a head of a neighborhood in a village. He reports to the Kepala Desa, the "mayor"). He was a bit busy with changing a tire, and would talk to me soon.
In the mean time about 5 police men had arrived, probably warned by the guy Dewi had called. They entered the house of Putu Sri, and asked about the situation, talked with some family members and Putu Sri. The name was given of the guy that had hurt Putu.
Now the Kepala Dusun arrived and he was irritated that the police was there, without consulting him first. "We solve things in our village ourselves, and I don't know where this is about". The police men explained that they had heard about the situation, and that it was not an ordinary neighborhood quarrel. Still, the Kepala Dusun was able to convince the police to let him take care of it, and if reports needed to be filed, the family was able to do so. The police went, and the Kepala Dusun went to "the suspect" (about 45) and took him to Putu Sri's house. Putu and her family were there in the same room with the suspect. I tried to object, but Dewi said "let them handle it".
A lot of Balinese talking went on, and as far as I understood, he didn't directly confess, but told that he had a craving for sex, and got sick if he didn't get it. Agreed was that things shouldn't happen again, and nobody wanted problems. No reports shall be filed with the police.
The suspect went. People smiled, problem was solved. I told the Kepala Dusun, that if I heard something again I would file a report myself.
I had a long talk with Dewi and told her what happened was so very wrong. That this "solution" of the village was so very wrong. Dewi told me that I don't know how things work in the village. I told her that I damned know well how things work in the village. Decisions are made not because of some holy Adat, but because of relations (Suspect has money), to keep "peace" and avoid disturbances in the village equilibrium. Dewi also expressed her fear that something would happen to us, because people will say that we put this whole thing in motion. I must admit that I was a bit worried when I heard some noise near our gate later that evening.
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This morning we again went to the village to pray at Dewi's family temple for Kuningan.
Putu Sri's father had arrived, and also some of her family members, because of Kuningan. They decided not to let it all go so easily, not accept the "decision" of the village, and they wanted to file a report with the police. Thank God, I said, and gave thumbs up to the father. Even right now a lot of talking goes on, and I don't know if the report has really been filed yet.
Putu Sri had her first period, and she was only 10 years old. Dewi was surprised that a girl at that age could already start menstruation.
Yesterday Dewi told me again about Putu Sri. Her period took very long this time, and Dewi wanted to help. She took Putu to the "bidan" for a examination. A bidan is a midwife, you find plenty of those around in the villages.
During talks with Putu, and the examination of the bidan, it became clear that this was no ordinary period. Her vagina was "damaged". Putu told about men from the village who had sex with her. She was paid 5.000 rupiah for it. 10 years old. (actually one of her family members told later, 2 x 5.000 and 1x 10.000)
Dewi called me and asked me for advice. I told her that this was a case for the police, but she was reluctant to take action, and asked me to come to the village. Dewi was not convinced right away about what Putu Sri was telling. I had a small chat with Putu, and was convinced that she spoke the truth. "It" had been happening the last few months, and at first sight it seemed that Putu Sri had gone voluntary with the men. Yes, plural. But it was only this specific guy that hurt her.
I said that allthough it wasn't rape, its still very illegal, and Putu was too young to make choices. It had to be reported to the police. We asked the grandmother, who was with Putu if she wanted to report it. After some persuasion she wanted to. Dewi called a police officer she knows from the village, to find out how and where. He asked about the situation and gave a phone number.
Dewi called, and the police officer said that the direct family had to report it to the station. The grandmother said that she wanted to consult the family before doing this, and she went.
15 minutes later the grandmother came back and told us that they wanted to find a solution within the family and the village first. Fine I said, and I went directly to the Kepala Dusun. (A Kepala Dusun is a head of a neighborhood in a village. He reports to the Kepala Desa, the "mayor"). He was a bit busy with changing a tire, and would talk to me soon.
In the mean time about 5 police men had arrived, probably warned by the guy Dewi had called. They entered the house of Putu Sri, and asked about the situation, talked with some family members and Putu Sri. The name was given of the guy that had hurt Putu.
Now the Kepala Dusun arrived and he was irritated that the police was there, without consulting him first. "We solve things in our village ourselves, and I don't know where this is about". The police men explained that they had heard about the situation, and that it was not an ordinary neighborhood quarrel. Still, the Kepala Dusun was able to convince the police to let him take care of it, and if reports needed to be filed, the family was able to do so. The police went, and the Kepala Dusun went to "the suspect" (about 45) and took him to Putu Sri's house. Putu and her family were there in the same room with the suspect. I tried to object, but Dewi said "let them handle it".
A lot of Balinese talking went on, and as far as I understood, he didn't directly confess, but told that he had a craving for sex, and got sick if he didn't get it. Agreed was that things shouldn't happen again, and nobody wanted problems. No reports shall be filed with the police.
The suspect went. People smiled, problem was solved. I told the Kepala Dusun, that if I heard something again I would file a report myself.
I had a long talk with Dewi and told her what happened was so very wrong. That this "solution" of the village was so very wrong. Dewi told me that I don't know how things work in the village. I told her that I damned know well how things work in the village. Decisions are made not because of some holy Adat, but because of relations (Suspect has money), to keep "peace" and avoid disturbances in the village equilibrium. Dewi also expressed her fear that something would happen to us, because people will say that we put this whole thing in motion. I must admit that I was a bit worried when I heard some noise near our gate later that evening.
--------------------
This morning we again went to the village to pray at Dewi's family temple for Kuningan.
Putu Sri's father had arrived, and also some of her family members, because of Kuningan. They decided not to let it all go so easily, not accept the "decision" of the village, and they wanted to file a report with the police. Thank God, I said, and gave thumbs up to the father. Even right now a lot of talking goes on, and I don't know if the report has really been filed yet.