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Taman Safari founders under scrutiny over abuse, exploitation allegations
According to the performers' legal representative, the circus management allegedly took in more than 60 underprivileged children, some as young as two years old, from their families and trained them as performers. They were reportedly denied salaries, education and any documentation of their identities or family ties.
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Laughing matter: Two clowns entertain the audience during a performance of The Great 50 Show by Oriental Circus Indonesia. JP/Dhoni Setiawan (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he founders of Taman Safari Indonesia, a prominent wildlife park in Bogor, West Java, are in hot water over allegations that they exploited and abused children in a now-defunct circus formerly run by their family.
Eight former workers of the Oriental Circus Indonesia (OCI) recently visited the Human Rights Ministry and the House of Representatives, demanding justice for the abuse they claim to have endured while employed as child performers in the circus during the 1970s.
Founded in 1971 by Hadi Manansang, the OCI was one of the country’s first and most popular modern circus groups. It remained active until 1997, with a final commemorative performance held in 2020 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Hadi has since passed away.
Hadi's children, Jansen Manansang, Frans Manansang and Tony Sumampau, who also performed in the circus, went on to establish Taman Safari Indonesia in 1981. Former OCI performers have accused them of being involved in the alleged abuse that occurred during the circus's operation.
According to the performers' legal representative, the circus management allegedly took in more than 60 underprivileged children, some as young as two years old from their families and trained them as performers. They were reportedly denied salaries, education and any documentation of their identities or family ties.
One former performer, Meiliana Damayanti, claimed she was taken from her family at around two or three years old in the early 1970s and was trained in acrobatics at the circus.
“I don’t even know my exact age or real birth name as they never gave me my birth certificate,” Meiliana said during a recent visit to the Human Rights Ministry, as quoted by Tempo.co.
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