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Experts want restorative justice for alleged teen bullies, but netizens beg to differ
On Tuesday, several netizens leaked pictures and videos of the alleged perpetrators as well as their various social media accounts.
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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)
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egal 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 counseling. Retno said the alleged perpetrators would also need psychological counseling so that they would not reoffend.
Legal expert from the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) also said the best punishment for underage offenders is not always in the form of conventional prison time as this might only make the situation worse.
The victim, a junior high school student, sustained serious injuries requiring hospital treatment after at least three high school girls allegedly assaulted her on March 29 in a row over a boy and a social media argument. The South Pontianak Police are currently investigating the case.
“We have to be careful as all those involved in this case are still just children,” Maidina Rahmawati of the ICJR told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
“The punishment could be in many forms, not only prison time, such as skills training, compensation payments or community service.”
