Circus told to settle dispute out of court

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)