Children worried about life after prison

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Gripped with curiosity and a thirst to communicate with outsiders, residents of the Tangerang Children's Penitentiary approached the visiting strangers.

The stories then poured out.

Herman was jailed for using and dealing heroin. Erik, Ardi and Lucky stabbed a man to death. Other residents include members of the "red axe" armed robbery group, those who helped plant a bomb at a church on Christmas Eve 2001, and even someone who committed a sexual assault when he was only 11 years old.

Almost 75 percent the 300 residents, aged between 11 and 25 years old, are in jail due to drug-related offenses.

"A few kids here, however, didn't even commit any crime. They're just so hard to handle that their parents couldn't stand them and sent them here," said Ardi, 25, who has been in and out of six different prisons.

Too old in fact to be in this penitentiary, Ardi and many other of his over-17 friends are not being transferred to adult prisons, as the latter are already overcrowded.

However, despite the tattoos that covered their bodies, the young men did not exactly look evil, like the kids or hoodlums in the streets.

Maybe it was because they were having fun on Monday, having a rare day off where they could engage in games like tug-of-war, or participate in a drawing competition or watch musical performances -- part of National Education Day celebrations held by the National Commission for Child Protection.

Or perhaps the hardships of life and the dog-eat-dog rules of prison have tamed the kids?

Herman, 21, said he had lost 80 percent of his courage once he entered the prison over four years ago.

"I'm scared (to do anything bad) here. I used to hold a machete outside, but here, I'm holding a broom. We used to call out to and tease girls. But here, we face sexual harassment from the boys," the skinny young man told The Jakarta Post before asking for cigarettes.

Punishments are pretty harsh too for deviants and troublemakers, ranging from physical punishments, to being kept in a tiny isolation cell, as well as electrocution.

At least, according to Ardi, unlike in other penitentiaries, they are allowed walk around the prison complex and hang around with other boys.

However, in the late afternoon, they have to return to their 1.5-meter to 2.5-meter cells, each inhabited by three people, and cannot go out even to go to the toilet.

School, training sessions and workshops -- writing, carpentry and a few others -- also keep them busy.

Herman said proudly that he was among the writers of the Prodeo (Prison) bulletin published by the boys, while Ardi bragged about his ability to change cement sacks into colorful motorcycle miniatures.

However, only several months away from being released, Ardi was worried about the uncertainty of life after prison.

"What kind of job should I do? I reckon no-one would hire an ex-con with tattoos," said the high school graduate, formerly a resident of Kali Jodo, North Jakarta.

"Hopefully, I won't be involved in trouble again. Though, I'll have to stay away from the group whose friend I stabbed," Ardi smiled apologetically.

Herman was also worried about what he would do after being freed next year, because he only got an elementary school education.

National Commission for Child Protection director Seto Mulyadi urged the government on Monday to pay more attention to inmates of Tangerang Children's Penitentiary, particularly in terms of their education and training.

"Don't criminalize them, they have to be looked after. I also call on the government to immediately change the name of the children's penitentiary to just training center or something else. So that the kids will be less insecure when they come out," Seto said.