DPS told to step up fight against pornography

The sponsor of the recently-signed law against pornography has urged the Department of Public Safety to beef up its enforcement in areas notorious for such establishments, particularly in the Garapan tourist district.

Rep. Malua T. Peter, chair of the House Committee on Health and Welfare, expressed gratitude to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for approving her measure which she had been pushing since 1995.

Public Law 12-9 took effect last week, paving the way for the government to impose stiffer penalties against merchants found violating the new restrictions with imprisonment of not more than one year and/or fine of up to $5,000.

It bars minors under the age of 18 entry into sex-themed shops or establishments selling pornographic materials, while requiring these businesses to post notices in several languages used on the islands.

The law is an amendment to existing Commonwealth Code to make it unlawful to display or show any graphic reproduction showing “genitalia, sexual contact or sexual display” unless such materials are used for medical reference or for educational purposes.

“It’s about time that we have this law in place,” Ms. Peter told in an interview as she noted mounting complaints her office has received on several shops in Garapan openly displaying offensive materials in public.

“I don’t think tourists come here for that purpose… We want to clean up this place,” she added.

But the Saipan lawmaker underscored the need to intensify police enforcement in order to apprehend violators, citing failure in the past by authorities to effect necessary changes.

“We have so many laws and what lacks here is enforcement,” the representative explained. “I would ask law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, to round up not only the hotel street but other gift shops to make sure that they are complying with the law.”

Coming on the heels of rising concerns on the worsening image of Garapan, PL 12-9 has noted that over 10,000 minors residing in the CNMI and more than 40,000 others visiting the islands yearly are becoming increasingly exposed to merchandise of pornographic nature that has a detrimental effect on this age group.

Prostitution is illegal in the CNMI but some establishments are masquerading as legitimate tourist-related or entertainment businesses to evade arrests and lawsuits.

In recent months, police and immigration agents have conducted raids and arrests in some shops and clubs in Garapan suspected to be operating as fronts for prostitution.