Unlicensed Little Aresha Daycare in Jogja, KPAI Demands Permanent Closure

Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo stated that the Little Aresha daycare in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta, does not hold an operating permit. As many as 53 children are suspected victims of abuse by the daycare’s management and caregivers. “As happened yesterday, there is no permit, only the foundation, but no permit. Permit as a childcare centre (TPA), permit as early childhood education or kindergarten, there is none,” Hasto explained when met after attending an event in Yogyakarta City, as reported by detikJogja on Sunday (26/4). To ensure such incidents do not recur, Hasto said the Yogyakarta City Government will conduct sweeps of places offering childcare services in Yogyakarta City. “We will sweep places that provide childcare in Yogyakarta City,” Hasto clarified. “Actually, there is already an SOP, there is a procedure when they apply for permits, usually we do verification, visitation, then check the standards. Including the kitchen, the bathroom, what they are like, there are standards for all of it. If unlicensed, of course we don’t know. That’s why we need to sweep later,” he added. KPAI demands permanent closure The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has demanded the permanent closure of the Little Aresha daycare. “KPAI hopes for protection from the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) because some families of the child victims have been approached by unknown individuals. And of course, KPAI hopes that this daycare will be closed permanently,” said KPAI Commissioner Diyah Puspitarini to reporters on Monday (27/4). KPAI has requested an evaluation of daycare management in Yogyakarta City. The evaluation involves cataloguing licensed and unlicensed daycares as well as providing guidance to all daycares and their managers. “Several problematic daycares handled by KPAI indeed operate purely for business purposes without regard for regulations, let alone establishment permits. And usually, such daycares also neglect the surrounding community, without permission from community figures or village officials. According to the establishment rules, it must be with permission from the local education department and the city/regency government,” Diyah explained. Diyah views the violence case at Little Aresha as more systematic. “Meaning there seems to be an SOP where children at certain times have their legs or hands tied and parents are not allowed to see directly, and it is done massively by caregivers, so it seems there was such an instruction. Therefore, it needs to be investigated up to the leadership and foundation owner, because this incident has been going on for quite a while, repeatedly and intensively,” she continued. Police raided the Little Aresha daycare on Friday (24/4). Officers found children in tied conditions during the raid. The average victim is under two years old. Police then secured 30 people in the raid. After intensive examination, 13 people were designated as suspects in the Little Aresha daycare violence case. The suspects include the foundation leader to the caregivers. Regarding the motive, it is still under police investigation. So far, there are 53 child victims on record. “So, until last night, we held a case review after that designated 13 people as temporary suspects,” said Yogyakarta Police Chief Kombes Eva Guna Pandia on Saturday (25/4).