Circus told to settle dispute out of court

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights suggests the dispute between the management of Oriental Circus Indonesia and its former workers be settled out-of-court.

Commission members Muladi and Djoko Sugiyanto said yesterday they hoped the dispute, including possible compensation for the former workers, could be settled within what the circus management called the "family-like circus culture."

"Only from now on this culture should not involve human rights violations," Muladi said.

"But if they (the former workers) decide to sue the circus, it is up to them," Muladi said.

The rights body sponsored a meeting yesterday between the circus management and six former workers, who claim to have been abused by the management.

The circus management was represented by Tony Sumampau. The meeting was at the rights body's headquarters on Jl. Latuharhari, Central Jakarta.

Among the former workers were Ida, who was crippled after falling in an acrobatic show, and Vivi Neria Sumampau, who reported the alleged abuse to the rights body.

Repeating what he said on March 18 at the Safari Park, Cisarua, Bogor, Muladi said that the Circus had violated "the most basic of rights" of their workers by preventing them from knowing their origins and from getting a formal education.

Vivi had told the rights body she had not been given a formal education or time to seek her parents.

Vivi, now 24, worked in circus from when she was five to 14 years old. Then she moved to the Safari Park. She also claimed she had been physically abused.

Muladi said yesterday that charges of torture were hard to prove as there were no witnesses, he said.

The circus management, which is under the auspices of the Safari Park management, had earlier acknowledged the commission's charges, saying they were ignorant of such rights, and had taken children from poor families and treated them like their own. The circus, established in 1967, said it still employed 12 children under 17.

After the meeting Muladi said the Commission had also asked the Circus to limit its "disciplinary measures."

"The employer said such measures were necessary in a circus but the employees said they felt it was torture," Muladi said.

Muladi told the ex-employees that the commission would also check on and announce the identities of 20 other youngsters who were on a circus tour outside Java.

"Anybody who once gave up their children to the circus should report to us," Muladi said.

The employees had said they were not allowed to socialize and, those who joined the circus when they were infants, were not told who their parents were.

The workers had said they had each asked who their parents were and been told their parents had died.

Last week some of the other circus workers said they had no problem with the management. They said strong measures were normal disciplinary actions.

However Muladi stressed the circus and the park were under separate managements.

Muladi said the commission would also coordinate with relevant bodies to settle the matter, such as the Ministry of Sports and Youth regarding the youngsters' education, because the circus could be categorized as a form of sport.

Ex-employees said yesterday they had decided to support Vivi and her husband. "When we worked at the circus no one ever thought to report to outsiders. But maybe now things have changed," Anton, who joined the circus when he was seven, said.

He said he never felt proud of being a member of a famous circus "because we had no choice." (jun/anr)