Experts want restorative justice for alleged teen bullies, but netizens beg to differ

Gisela Swaragita
The Jakarta Post

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Jakarta / Wed, April 10, 2019 / 08:06 am

Antibullying community Sudah Dong spokesperson Fabelyn Baby Walean (left), the head of Economic Growth Initiatives, APAC, Facebook, Clair Deevy (center) and youth development foundation Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB) secretary general Muhammad Farhan take a picture after the launch of the Think Before You Share campaign at Eduplex in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday. (thejakartapost.com/Arya Dipa)

Legal and education experts have called on the authorities to use noncustodial punishments for the alleged teen bullies who assaulted a 15-year-old girl in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, but netizens have taken the law into their own hands by “doxing” the alleged perpetrators and have even hacked one alleged perpetrator’s Instagram account. The Indonesian Commission of Child Protection (KPAI) urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the case using the 2012 Juvenile Law in relation to the alleged perpetrators, who are minors. The 2012 law stipulates the principle of restorative justice, whereby underage offenders are rehabilitated through noncustodial punishments. KPAI commissioner Retno Listyarti said in her statement on Tuesday that she would contact the Pontianak Health Agency to ensure the victim received proper medical treatment and psychological...

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