Park owner to sue over abuse charges

JAKARTA (JP): Frans Manansang, who owns the Taman Safari park near Bogor, West Java, has threatened to sue his former employees for saying the park employed and abused child labor.

"We have lodged a complaint with the Bogor police over Robby Tjahjadi's (a former employee) statement which has not only tarnished the park but also my name," Frans Manansang said yesterday in an interview with ANteve.

Manansang said he would sue Robby and his wife, Vivi, for libel.

Robby and Vivi have escaped the park and went to Semarang, where they recently reported child exploitation at the park to Muladi of the National Commission on Human Rights.

Vivi, 21, met Muladi yesterday before telling reporters how she was often beaten up, locked up for days and once electrocuted for misbehavior. She said she joined the park's animal acrobatics show when she was eleven, and that Robby used to work there as a reptiles keeper.

Vivi said that many of her young friends had been treated inhumanely and supported her plan to escape and seek help. She alleged earlier that child workers were punished if they attempted to escape the park.

"My friends have said they are willing to testify about how the park management treated me," she said. "I begged Muladi to protect me."

Robby said he was seeking the Commission's help because park management had reported him to the Cisarua police station for kidnapping Vivi and running away from the park.

Park management has twice refuted their allegations. A public relations officer initially denied that the park hired children. But management later conceded it employed children, but said it treated them well and let them leave the park if they wished. It also said it gave them English, maths and Mandarin lessons.

Muladi, also rector of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University, said he had not heard from park management and therefore would not comment on Vivi's story. He said he would maintain the principle of innocent until proven guilty.

Muladi and three other Commission members -- Koesparmono Irsan, Djoko Soegijanto and Clementino Dos Reis Amaral -- plan to visit the park Tuesday to meet its management.

"We will investigate and seek a direct interview with the park's managers," Muladi said. "We're taking this case seriously, partly because the Attorney General's Office and the National Police headquarters have expressed support for an immediate investigation."

Muladi has asked the National Police to protect Vivi, Robby and other staff of former staff who are potential witnesses.

The park reportedly employs 600 people, including 100 children who work with animals as the park's attraction. (swe/har)