Rights commission recommends circus halt work abuses
Rights commission recommends circus halt work abuses
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has
recommended the Oriental Circus Indonesia's management stop
abusing the rights of its child workers.
The recommendation signed by rights body chairman, Munawir
Sjadzali, and secretary-general, Baharuddin Lopa, also said that
training children with discipline should not mean torturing them,
physically or mentally.
The three-page recommendation was read by Muladi, a commission
member, at the rights body's office on Jl. Latuharhari, Central
Jakarta Tuesday evening.
The commission also recommended that the circus management,
which is also the management of the Safari Park in Cisarua,
Bogor, cooperate with the commission to help the children get
adequate information about their backgrounds.
"The fact that Indonesia has ratified the International
Convention on the Rights of the Child should mean that we treat
and take care of children better," said Muladi, who is also
rector of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University.
The violations of the rights of the circus children were
revealed mid last month when Vivi Neria Sumampau and her husband,
former circus members, escaped the Safari Park late last year and
reported abuse to the rights commission.
Vivi told Muladi that she and some of her friends had been
abused. The circus management had not let her know anything about
her background, and had not given them an adequate education. She
said she did not have a single diploma.
Muladi and another rights commission member, Djoko Sugiyanto,
visited the Safari Park on March 18 to meet the circus
management, Frans Manangsang, Jansen Manangsang and Tony
Sumampau.
After a hearing with the circus management in front of
reporters, Muladi and Djoko concluded that the circus had
violated Vivi's right to know about her background and to an
adequate education.
The second meeting between the commission and the circus
management was on March 25 at the commission's office.
The conclusion of the second meeting is similar to that of the
first.
The rights body also recommended that the circus management
work with the rights body, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the
Ministry of Education and Culture and the Indonesian Air Force
Cooperative (Puskopau) to avoid rights abuses.
The two ministries are involved because the activities of the
circus and its members relate to sports and education, while the
Air Force is involved because it was their cooperative that
founded the circus.
"Any dispute between the circus management and its former
workers should be settled amicably," Muladi said.
The rights body said there were seven former circus members
seeking help because of abuse.
Muladi said the rights commission had appreciated the circus
management's openness.
"We understand the circus tried to take care of orphans and
neglected children by recruiting them to become circus athletes,"
Muladi said.
The rights body said it also understood the "culture" of the
circus family, and appreciated the management's openness in
revealing what was going on, Muladi said. "The management's
willingness to take our suggestions is also greatly appreciated."
Tony Sumampau told Muladi and Djoko in the second meeting
in Cisarua, Bogor, that their treatment of the circus girls was
based on the culture and way of life of the circus. (05/sur)