Fallout from Little Aresha Daycare Case, Sultan Directs Issuance of Circular
Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono (HB) X has stated that he has ordered his subordinates to conduct operations against childcare facilities (daycares) in the region.
This follows the uncovering of violent practices against toddlers entrusted to Little Aresha Daycare in Yogyakarta City. It has since been revealed that Little Aresha Daycare was operating without permission from the relevant authorities.
According to Sri Sultan, institutions operating without official permits are suspected of posing risks that could lead to problems in the future.
To follow up on this matter, the Sultan has instructed that all unlicensed childcare facilities in the region immediately cease operations.
“By definition, if it’s illegal, it will cause problems. If you want to do it properly, it must be legal. So, in my view, illegal ones should be temporarily closed so they can be processed legally. As long as they don’t want to go legal, they shouldn’t be allowed to open, so it doesn’t happen again,” said the man who is also the Sultan of the Jogja Palace.
Sri Sultan has ordered his subordinates to quickly draft a circular to serve as a mandate for district/city governments to carry out field operations to comb through unworthy institutions, both in terms of documentation and service quality.
“That’s why I’m asking for a quick design of the circular. My hope is that districts and cities will conduct operations. See if there are any illegal ones, ones that don’t provide good services like that,” he said at the Kepatihan Complex, Yogyakarta, on Wednesday (29/4), quoted from Antara.
The Sultan also criticised the commercial practices in illegal daycares that often offer childcare until late at night, while ignoring child protection standards.
According to the Sultan, official permission is an absolute requirement that cannot be negotiated. Furthermore, even after permission is granted, strict supervision must be carried out to ensure services remain of high quality.
“The important thing is the service, because even legal ones aren’t necessarily providing good service, let alone illegal ones. Yes, they offer flexibility, you can leave the child until 10 pm. But that must come at a cost. It can’t be otherwise,” said Sri Sultan.
On that occasion, Sri Sultan expressed astonishment that the violence against toddlers at Little Aresha Daycare was carried out by women who should naturally have nurturing instincts as mothers.
“I’m surprised that [the violence] was done by mothers. Don’t they have children? Treating underage children like that,” said the King of the Jogja Palace.
The childcare facility in Yogyakarta was raided by police on Friday (24/4) due to cases of child abuse and neglect.
In this case, the Yogyakarta Police Resort has named 13 suspects, consisting of the foundation owner, daycare head, and caregivers there.
“I don’t understand who they are. Well, if it’s men [perpetrating violence against children], maybe, but the mothers themselves committing such violence,” said Sri Sultan.