Rights commission recommends circus halt work abuses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has
\nrecommended the Oriental Circus Indonesia's management stop
\nabusing the rights of its child workers.<\/p>\n
The recommendation signed by rights body chairman, Munawir
\nSjadzali, and secretary-general, Baharuddin Lopa, also said that
\ntraining children with discipline should not mean torturing them,
\nphysically or mentally.<\/p>\n
The three-page recommendation was read by Muladi, a commission
\nmember, at the rights body's office on Jl. Latuharhari, Central
\nJakarta Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
The commission also recommended that the circus management,
\nwhich is also the management of the Safari Park in Cisarua,
\nBogor, cooperate with the commission to help the children get
\nadequate information about their backgrounds.<\/p>\n
\"The fact that Indonesia has ratified the International
\nConvention on the Rights of the Child should mean that we treat
\nand take care of children better,\" said Muladi, who is also
\nrector of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University.<\/p>\n
The violations of the rights of the circus children were
\nrevealed mid last month when Vivi Neria Sumampau and her husband,
\nformer circus members, escaped the Safari Park late last year and
\nreported abuse to the rights commission.<\/p>\n
Vivi told Muladi that she and some of her friends had been
\nabused. The circus management had not let her know anything about
\nher background, and had not given them an adequate education. She
\nsaid she did not have a single diploma.<\/p>\n
Muladi and another rights commission member, Djoko Sugiyanto,
\nvisited the Safari Park on March 18 to meet the circus
\nmanagement, Frans Manangsang, Jansen Manangsang and Tony
\nSumampau.<\/p>\n
After a hearing with the circus management in front of
\nreporters, Muladi and Djoko concluded that the circus had
\nviolated Vivi's right to know about her background and to an
\nadequate education.<\/p>\n
The second meeting between the commission and the circus
\nmanagement was on March 25 at the commission's office.<\/p>\n
The conclusion of the second meeting is similar to that of the
\nfirst.<\/p>\n
The rights body also recommended that the circus management
\nwork with the rights body, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the
\nMinistry of Education and Culture and the Indonesian Air Force
\nCooperative (Puskopau) to avoid rights abuses.<\/p>\n
The two ministries are involved because the activities of the
\ncircus and its members relate to sports and education, while the
\nAir Force is involved because it was their cooperative that
\nfounded the circus.<\/p>\n
\"Any dispute between the circus management and its former
\nworkers should be settled amicably,\" Muladi said.<\/p>\n
The rights body said there were seven former circus members
\nseeking help because of abuse.<\/p>\n
Muladi said the rights commission had appreciated the circus
\nmanagement's openness.<\/p>\n
\"We understand the circus tried to take care of orphans and
\nneglected children by recruiting them to become circus athletes,\"
\nMuladi said.<\/p>\n
The rights body said it also understood the \"culture\" of the
\ncircus family, and appreciated the management's openness in
\nrevealing what was going on, Muladi said. \"The management's
\nwillingness to take our suggestions is also greatly appreciated.\"<\/p>\n
Tony Sumampau told Muladi and Djoko in the second meeting
\nin Cisarua, Bogor, that their treatment of the circus girls was
\nbased on the culture and way of life of the circus. (05\/sur)<\/p>",
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