Eviction leaves street children traumatized

Leo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Many street children in the city have been left traumatized by their experiences of forced eviction imposed by the city administration, National Commission for Children Protection chairman Seto Mulyadi said here on Monday.

The violent and traumatic experiences will have a negative impact on the development of the children. Children, as the best imitators, might also commit violence, he said.

"It would cause disturbing memories through their whole life," Seto told The Jakarta Post after attending the observance of National Children's Day here.

He criticized the city administration for evicting those considered to have violated public order, especially squatters, without considering the impact it would have on the children.

In case an eviction was unavoidable, Seto suggested that the city administration cooperate with the National Commission of Child Protection or other organizations in an effort to ensure children are not exposed to violence.

"Children should be evacuated first prior to the eviction," Seto said.

Having witnessed raids and evictions numerous times, Dina Siregar, a street child in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, told the Post how scared she was every time she saw a group of city public order officers.

"I am scared to death when I see them," she said. Many of her friends who were arrested during the raid were taken to the social rehabilitation center.

Another street child, Sari, 9, witnessed the forced eviction of her family from her house in Grogol, West Jakarta. After the incident, the third grader of elementary school quit school and became a street musician, along with her elder sister. The two now live in a halfway house on Jl. Iskandar Muda, South Jakarta, while their four younger siblings now live with their father, a scavenger and their mother, a beggar, in Serpong, Tangerang.

She also told of her fear of public order officers.

The Indonesian Forum for Child Promotion and Development (FK- PPAI) estimated that this year, the number of street children in the 12 major cities nationwide will increase by up to 300 percent or around 150,000 children, compared to three years ago.

According to the Indonesian Child Welfare Foundation, there are about 100 halfway houses in the city, which accommodate more or less 16,000 street children.

Seto further urged the local government to provide more halfway homes for deprived children.

However, halfway homes are not enough without empowering the children, according to Anak Nusantara Foundation coordinator Finsa Mahendra.

"They need a more humane approach as most of them have been humiliated and feel they are outcasts," Finsa said.

Otherwise, they will opt to go back to the streets instead of staying in a halfway house.