Jakarta, Feb 26 (Antara)- The police and Indonesian National Commission
for Child Protection (KPAI) are jointly investigating the alleged abuse
of orphans reportedly locked up and mistreated, which resulted in an
infant death at an orphanage in Tangerang, Banten.
On Tuesday, the KPAI officials evacuated 32 orphans from The Samuel's
Home run under the "Yayasan Kasih Sayang Bunda" foundation in Sector 6,
Block GC, Gading Serpong, Tangerang, Banten.
On the previous day, the KPAI and officers from the Jakarta Regional
Police also evacuated 12 other orphans following a tip-off from the
public regarding the alleged lock up and abuse. The 12 children from The
Samuel's Home were all 'Balita' or children below five years of age.
"We are evacuating them, including the two who are suffering from high
fever. We are taking them to the hospital," KPAI Chairman Arist Merdeka
Sirait stated on Monday.
Arist explained that he asked the owners of the foundation about the
medical treatment being given to the two ailing orphans. The foundation
owners admitted that they had taken the children to the hospital, but
they were only given Febrifuge.
He added that those evacuated on Monday were all Balitas. There were
also some orphans who were above the Balita age, but they were not at
the orphanage when the KPAI officials arrived as they were attending
school.
"We will evacuate all the children from The Samuel's Home. The
remaining children who were still outside will be evacuated later,"
noted Arist Merdeka Sirait.
It is suspected that the foundation had locked up and poorly treated
the children that led to the death of a three-month old infant.
The case surfaced after the KPAI received a report on February 11,
2014, on the alleged mistreatment of several children who were neglected
at the orphanage.
The commission and police were later informed about the death of a
three-month old infant in an orphanage run under the "Yayasan Kasih
Sayang Bunda" foundation, on February 15, 2014.
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police, whose jurisdiction covers Tangerang,
reported that it will investigate the case. The investigators will
interrogate the owners of the foundation, who are Samuel and his wife,
YW, as well as their housekeeper, in connection with the alleged
violence against the orphans.
"The three are still witnesses. They will be questioned at the Jakarta
Police's Sub-Directorate for Youth and Woman Affairs on Monday, March 3,
2014," Regional Jakarta Police Spokesman Senior Commissioner Rikwanto
remarked on Tuesday.
He explained that the police will investigate the alleged abuse of the
orphans at The Samuel's Home. They will also obtain the medical reports
or autopsy from the medical authorities.
"We are waiting for the results of the medical examination conducted by the medical authorities," asserted Rikwanto.
In an effort to handle The Samuel's Home case, KPAI Chairman Arist
Merdeka Sirait emphasized that he had coordinated with the Ministry of
Social Affairs on how to accommodate the orphans at a safer home.
According to Samsudi, the director general for social rehabilitation
affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs has sent a letter to the Social
Affairs Services of Tangerang District, Banten, to handle the problem of
the alleged abuse at the Yayasan Kasih Sayang Bunda foundation.
"The Ministry of Social Affairs cannot directly handle the case. It is
the local office of the social affairs service which has the authority,"
the director general pointed out.
It was also revealed that seven children had fled The Samuel's Home.
They claimed that they had escaped because they were beaten up, given no
food, and were forced to sleep in a kennel.
"Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs wrote to the local office of
the social affairs to look into the matter and take the necessary
follow-up steps," Samsudi remarked.
A senior official from the social affairs ministry noted that ideally,
the management of a home for orphans should follow the Social Affairs
Ministry's Regulation No. 30/2011 on The National Care Standards for
Institutions Handling the Welfare of Children (LKSA).
The regulation stipulates matters relating to child welfare care standards, including the protection of children.
"Services provided for orphans should be adjusted to the ministry's regulation," he stressed.
Samsudi expressed grief and regret with regard to the case in
Tangerang. He hoped that the local social service office will work hard
to put in order orphanages that are run without permits.
The director general pointed out that orphanages are vulnerable to child trafficking and abuse.
"Orphanages are vulnerable to child trafficking and maltreatment. Many
cases of child abuse take place at the orphanages, particularly in those
operating without permits," Samsudi stated at a press conference on
Tuesday.
The number of child care homes or orphanages in Indonesia reached six
thousand, of which some 800 have no permits, thus operating illegally.
The Ministry of Social Affairs is now putting in order those orphanages that do not have operating licenses.
"The permits of some orphanages have expired and were not renewed,
while some others do not apply for a permit at all," the director
general claimed.
Regarding the case of the Yayasan Kasih Sayang Bunda foundation, Sector
6, Block GC, Gading Serpong, Tangerang, Banten, Samsudi reported that
the incident occurred due to a lack of control and supervision.
"There is a lack of supervision by the local social service office. The
Ministry of Social Affairs has no authority in such areas," he pointed
out.
In the meantime, the regional government of Tangerang stated that the
orphanage The Samuel's Home, Sector 6, Block GC, Gading Serpong, has no
operating license.
"The Samuel's Home has no operating permit," Head of the Social Service
of Tangerang Uyung Muluyardi claimed on Tuesday.
However, Uyung could not yet ascertain the sanction that will be meted
out to the owner of the foundation. The problem is that the case is now
in a legal process with the KPAI.
"Yet, we will continue coordinating with the KPAI and the Ministry of
Social Affairs as the case is now in a legal process," Uyung pointed
out.
However, Samuel in his capacity as the owner of the orphanage admitted
that he had not yet coordinated and applied for a permit with the
Tangerang regional government.
"I admit that I have not yet applied for a permit because we have just started the orphanage," he argued.
Samuel denied any allegations of abuse against the children housed at
his orphanage. He claimed that the best services were offered to the
occupants of the orphanage.
He noted that the children who fell ill were immediately taken to the
hospital. We also provided them good accommodation.
"Although the KPAI perceives this place as inadequate, yet we believe
that this orphanage is quite adequate and good," Samuel stressed.
Therefore, he emphasized that he was always ready to offer explanations
to the KPAI and police regarding the lock up and violence allegations.
"I am always ready to provide any kind of explanation," he promised.***3***
(T.A014/INE/B003)
EDITED BY INE
(T.A014/A/BESSR/Bustanuddin) 26-02-2014 20:20 |
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