First of all, in the present social context, I think violence is a message to the nation. It is a message of social instability. We need to go very deep to know what the problem is and what is causing this instability. Sexual violence is a war weapon. Aggressors use it against women because it is the most extreme violence that exists to hurt a woman. I think it is a real message of instability that those aggressors are trying to pass!

<B>How do you feel when you hear about all these cases of sexual abuse?</B>

When I hear all this, I am like a lioness in a cage wondering what I can do or where to start! Up to now, I have been alone. I have always wanted to set up an association but I have never been able to find people really capable because it is such a delicate subject. The association would require lawyers, doctors, sociologists, psychologists and many other people able to deal with the subject. If we could find such volunteers, we could set up a committee that would manage the problem of sexual violence. But now, with the approach of people like Loga Virasawmy of Media Watch, I think the possibility of setting up a committee to manage all this seems more probable.

<B>The government is planning to review the law and inflict heavier penalties on sexual aggressors. What do you think of this?</B>

I think it is dangerous to act too quickly in amending the law. What the government always does is to wait for a case that people find unacceptable before reacting. Then it reacts too quickly. Instead of stopping at some point, the government should go on with their measures. There must be continuity in what they do instead of taking drastic measures without analysing the subject! I think the government had time to take severe measures since what happened to me four years ago. Since then, a lot of rape cases have occurred and, in many cases, ended with the death of the victim. Hence it is impossible to have the victim?s testimony.

<B>When the prime minister talked of a 60-year penalty for sexual aggressors, why did you disagree with him?</B>

I think it is ridiculous. It does not provide a solution to the main problem of violence. They should examine preventive means mainly, being severe at the same time. But there is no point in being severe with the law, if we cannot judge the case very quickly! Due to the fact that the case takes time to be judged, the aggressors are released on bail. And when this is so, they have time to intimidate the victims. Let?s say the case takes one year to be judged, the victim is not going to get one year of police protection.

What should be done to change this situation?</B>