Do not let our children grow up traumatized, advocates warn

Maya Dahlan and Santi W.E. Soekanto, Journalists, Jakarta

We weep with sadness -- or we should -- when a child is hurt or killed. What do we do when there are 700,000 children who suffer trauma? In fact, that is the number of refugee children scattered throughout Indonesia who are affected by unrest over the past few years.

Arist Merdeka Sirait of the National Commission of Children's Rights said his organization sent out teams of volunteers -- specially trained university students -- to various refugee camps to meet with children affected by unrest or natural disasters such as the recent flooding. Given the huge number of traumatized children, however, there should be more people extending a hand to help out, Arist said in a recent interview.

"It's a bit late, but it's good that the government recently established a directorate general office of mental health to help in such a situation. Better late than never," Arist said. "What's more important, however, is that the government should pursue the establishment of a law for the protection of children's rights."

Asep R. Jayanegara, secretary of the Crisis Committee Kompak, affiliated with the Indonesian Council of Islamic Da'wa (Dewan Dakwah Islamiyyah Indonesia) said his organization emphasized in- kind aid such as food and clothing for children in refugee camps. However, there are also campaigns to help them psychologically.

"We take some of the children to places away from the conflict, and send them to schools," Asep said. "But of course we can only do our share in helping them overcome their trauma."

Asep recounted how two refugee children from East Timor carried cotton balls everywhere they went. "When we asked why, they said it was to stop their ears from hearing the gun and bomb explosions."

The two advocates of children's rights shared their convictions that more had to be done by the government and the legislature to help child victims of armed conflicts now languishing in various camps.

"It does not even matter whether the suffering children are victims of armed conflicts or sexual abuse or children of the streets. Their survival and welfare is vital for the survival of this nation," Arist said. "If we let these children grow up with ill health -- mentally and physically -- what kind of adults will they become? Unless we help them fast, they will grow up carrying all this trauma wherever they go."

Asep said, "I fear that they will develop into a generation which harbors hatred and will carry the feelings of being mistreated the rest of their life, and will seek to avenge their pain," Asep said. "They will have to suffer this bitterness throughout their life."