Ten school-uniformed boys wearing cartoon masks is an image the public has recently become familiar with. They were not at a Halloween party; they were standing trial for what police interpreted as gambling.
The 10 children, aged between 8 and 15, were treated similarly to adults committing crimes: herded to the airport police office on May 29, and forced to lie in the midday sun before being tossed behind Tangerang's male juvenile bars the next day.
In another case, a 10-year-old boy, who allegedly attacked and killed his foster mother at their home in Ciracas, East Jakarta, on Oct. 11, is also waiting his legal process.
East Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Hasannudin had named the boy as the sole suspect in the murder case.
"For cases with underage as perpetrators, the investigation should not exceed 30 days," he said.
During the legal process, the boy is staying in a safe house designated by the Social Services Ministry. He recently met his biological mother, Norberta Niziami Nduru, 59, whom he had not seen for the last five years.
National Commission for Children Protection (Komnas Anak) chairman Seto Mulyadi said he hoped the reunion would serve as a precedent for law enforcers to better treat children in legal trouble.
Indonesian Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) Chairman Hadi Supeno that his institution is working hard to campaign for a better trial for children in conflict with the law.
"Indonesia is implementing a child trial law that actually criminalizes those kids *who are in conflict with the law*. This *statement* is based on the fact that this country has around 6,000 kids violating the law per year."
Hadi further said that 90 percent of around 6,000 children in conflict with the law came from underprivileged parents (who work as street vendors, drivers, and daily laborers), and 65 percent were boys.
"So far, 5,587 kids are currently behind juvenile bars. Such conditions prompts me to think, are Indonesian children this insidious?"
In KPAI's perspective, kids ne-ver conduct crimes but mischief, Hadi said.
"Nevertheless, the juvenile trial law has stigmatized troubled kids by stipulating that children showing animosity equates to conducting crimes. This is wrong and absurd."
Moreover the juvenile jails, said Hadi, are far from suitable for children.
"Indeed, in some jails, like in Tangerang, they receive basic education. But then again, how about their food budget? As far as I know, each kid only gets Rp 8,000 per day for meals," Hadi said.
"How could a kid get proper nutrition with such a limited budget?"
- JP/Niken Prathivi
