TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Experts criticize political campaign allegedly involving children
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
“Defending Islam” – Hundreds of Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members stage a rally in front of the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta on Jan.16.
(Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he Alliance of Civil Society for the Constitution (Amsik) alerted the public on Tuesday about an increasing number of intolerant practices involving children in Indonesia.
Irwanto, a professor from the Center on Child Protection and Wellbeing at the University of Indonesia, Henny Supolo, the chairwoman of the Teachers' Light Foundation, and Muhammad Hafiz, executive director of the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), were among the members of the group who held a press briefing that highlighted several cases in which children were used to convey sectarian messages.
In a recent video, a group of elementary school children were directed to explain that several Islamic symbols should not be associated with terrorist groups.
“We are not criticizing the religious symbol used in one of the videos,” said Muhammad, saying that the release of the video exposed the public to a limited view of Islam.
(Read also: Regulating religious intolerance)
In another video, a boy sang improvised lyrics to one of musician-turned-politician Rhoma Irama’s song, "Penasaran" (Curious). Through the song, the boy questioned President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo about why current Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama was supposedly being given "special treatment".
Henny, meanwhile, stressed the importance for children to have freedom of thought. “It is important that children are assisted to develop their freedom of thought. With freedom of thought, children can see the things that are good for them and their environment,” she said. (mrc/wit)
