TW: Suicide and rape
The hashtag #SAVENOVIAWIDYASARI has been trending nationwide in Indonesia after the suicide of a university student, 23-year-old Novia Widyasari went viral for its cruel circumstances.
# Her Last Words
Her lifeless body was found by the public next to her father's grave on 4th December 2021. Prior to her death, Novia wrote a goodbye letter to her mother that reads,
"Mom, please forgive me. I'm tired, I'm running out of strength. I'm scared for myself every day. Thank you for everything you did for me. I'm sorry. I love you, mama."
# Her Confession
Photo: Officer Randy Bagus
One of her closest friends has reportedly revealed that Novia had confessed to her the following: that she was indeed raped twice by her partner, Randy Bagus, who also happens to be a local police officer. Randy allured her into a hotel room and forced her to drink a substance that knocked her unconscious before raping her.
#The Aftermath
Novia would soon find out that she was carrying a child. When Randy refused to take responsibility. Novia turned to his parents for guidance and help. Although they initially offered to assist her, Randy's family would begin to blackmail and threaten her safety. Novia's own family members would taunt her as well, calling it a shameful act. In the end, Randy forced her to consume an abortion pill. According to reports, Novia had undergone an abortion twice— on March 2020 and August 2021 respectively.
#Novia's Concerning Online Postings
Days prior to her death, Novia uploaded a concerning post on the website Quora depicting her suicide plans, alongside questions such as, "How to die without taking my own life?", "I've bought cyanide, will it be painful to kill myself with it?", and other eerie suicidal questions. Since her death, the post and the questions are now removed from her Quora profile.
# What Happens Next?
Police officer Randy Bagus has been identified as a suspect and is reportedly under arrest. “The suspect is also charged with Article 348 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code,”, said the deputy chief of the Brigadier General of the East Java Police, Slamet Hadi Supraptoyo.
#Justice For Novia Widyasari
The death of Novia Widyasari has sparked a debate on the psychological effects of rape culture towards the victims and how they often irretrievably suffer heavier consequences than the perpetrators. The heinous culture of slut-shaming and victim-blaming, which essentially is the root cause of Novia's death, is also highlighted.
May justice prevail for Novia Widyasari. Rest in peace, beautiful soul.
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