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)