Park owner to sue over abuse charges<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Frans Manansang, who owns the Taman Safari park
\nnear Bogor, West Java, has threatened to sue his former employees
\nfor saying the park employed and abused child labor.<\/p>\n
\"We have lodged a complaint with the Bogor police over Robby
\nTjahjadi's (a former employee) statement which has not only
\ntarnished the park but also my name,\" Frans Manansang said
\nyesterday in an interview with ANteve.<\/p>\n
Manansang said he would sue Robby and his wife, Vivi, for
\nlibel.<\/p>\n
Robby and Vivi have escaped the park and went to Semarang,
\nwhere they recently reported child exploitation at the park to
\nMuladi of the National Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Vivi, 21, met Muladi yesterday before telling reporters how
\nshe was often beaten up, locked up for days and once electrocuted
\nfor misbehavior. She said she joined the park's animal acrobatics
\nshow when she was eleven, and that Robby used to work there as a
\nreptiles keeper.<\/p>\n
Vivi said that many of her young friends had been treated
\ninhumanely and supported her plan to escape and seek help. She
\nalleged earlier that child workers were punished if they
\nattempted to escape the park.<\/p>\n
\"My friends have said they are willing to testify about how
\nthe park management treated me,\" she said. \"I begged Muladi to
\nprotect me.\"<\/p>\n
Robby said he was seeking the Commission's help because park
\nmanagement had reported him to the Cisarua police station for
\nkidnapping Vivi and running away from the park.<\/p>\n
Park management has twice refuted their allegations. A public
\nrelations officer initially denied that the park hired children.
\nBut management later conceded it employed children, but said it
\ntreated them well and let them leave the park if they wished. It
\nalso said it gave them English, maths and Mandarin lessons.<\/p>\n
Muladi, also rector of the Semarang-based Diponegoro
\nUniversity, said he had not heard from park management and
\ntherefore would not comment on Vivi's story. He said he would
\nmaintain the principle of innocent until proven guilty.<\/p>\n
Muladi and three other Commission members -- Koesparmono
\nIrsan, Djoko Soegijanto and Clementino Dos Reis Amaral -- plan to
\nvisit the park Tuesday to meet its management.<\/p>\n
\"We will investigate and seek a direct interview with the
\npark's managers,\" Muladi said. \"We're taking this case seriously,
\npartly because the Attorney General's Office and the National
\nPolice headquarters have expressed support for an immediate
\ninvestigation.\"<\/p>\n
Muladi has asked the National Police to protect Vivi, Robby
\nand other staff of former staff who are potential witnesses.<\/p>\n
The park reportedly employs 600 people, including 100 children
\nwho work with animals as the park's attraction. (swe\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/park-owner-to-sue-over-abuse-charges-1447893297",
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