Anger, Fear, and Trauma: The Heart-Rending Voices of Harassment Victims on the KRL
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - At rush hour, electric commuter trains (KRL) become crowded spaces, with bodies pressed tightly as people stand.
In that cramped space, the fatigue of a long day often mixes with worry, especially for female passengers. After all, sexual harassment on KRL is not a one-off occurrence.
For Aisyah (25), an office worker who commutes daily to Sudirman by KRL, the evening journey is more than a routine. She says she is always on guard.
“I actually have heard a lot about harassment on KRL, and the cases do seem quite numerous. Sometimes at rush hour the trains are incredibly crowded, and that makes us female passengers feel uncomfortable,” Aisyah told Kompas.com at Sudirman Station, on Tuesday (3 March 3036).
Five days a week, Aisyah chooses a women-only coach. But that option is not always available. When that coach is full, she is forced to board a mixed-gender car.
“If the women-only coach is full, I sometimes have to get into the ordinary car. My friend has experienced unpleasant situations in the common carriage. Since then we have become more cautious,” she said.
Aisyah said she now avoids peak hours whenever possible. She also tries not to stand too close to strangers.
“But we can’t always avoid it. We need a sense of safety, not just passive protection,” Aisyah said.
“Safety space is not only about seating, but about respect,” she added.
A similar anger was voiced by Fadilla (29). She says she is furious whenever she hears about harassment on KRL.
“I am very angry when I hear someone harassing on KRL. Why on a train, in a public place, do something indecent? It’s as if there is no other place for the perpetrator,” Fadilla told Manggarai Station.
According to her, victims are often women who have just endured a long and exhausting day.
“Imagine, the victim is sometimes very tired after work. Their lives are under pressure, but they have to face the perpetrator’s rude behaviour who only cares about their own pleasure,” she said.
In fact, when harassment occurs, women are usually advised to move to a women-only carriage, avoid rush hours, or be more vigilant.
“I agree that more women-only carriages should be added, but a safe space for women should not mean we must always yield,” Fadilla said.
“Why can’t men control themselves and respect other people’s space? It feels unfair that women must be extra careful, when the wrongdoer is the perpetrator,” she added.
For her, a safe space is not just about seating or physical barriers, but about respect and awareness among all passengers.
A real trauma was experienced by Ani (not her real name) (27). In December 2025, around 18:40 WIB, she boarded a KRL from Gondangdia toward Bogor. The women-only carriage at that time was full.
“I’ve been taking the KRL for almost five years, almost daily, so it’s common to be squeezed. That time I just got on anyway, the important thing is to get home quickly,” Ani said in a phone interview.