The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission Holds Internal Examination Against Perpetrators Of Sexual Harassment And Bullying

JAKARTA - The Central Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) held an internal inspection to investigate sexual harassment and bullying in their environment.

This was done in response to the confession of one of their employees in the visual data section, MS, who claimed to be sexually harassed and bullied by his own senior co-worker. In total there are seven perpetrators who will undergo examination today, Thursday, September 2.

"Yes (an internal examination was held today, ed)", said KPI Chairman Agung Suprio when confirmed by VOI, Thursday, September 2.

In addition to internal investigations, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police also intervened to investigate this matter. In fact, a team of investigators has been deployed.

However, the Director of General Crimes at the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Brigadier General Andi Rian, has not been able to comment much on the matter. He emphasized that the team that was deployed would seek information and instructions first.

For information, MS said that he had experienced sexual harassment and bullying from his seniors since 2012. He said the perpetrators dared to sexually harass and bully him because they were considered 'cheeky' and did not dare to fight back.

According to him, the office has indeed taken action against the sexual harassment he experienced by moving his office to a safer place. He just didn't feel safe there.

"I can't take it anymore. I might resign", said MS.

The 33-year-old said the sexual harassment and bullying he received began when he was often asked to serve his seniors. MS felt disapproved because he and the perpetrators had the same position, namely as KPI employees.

At its peak, in 2015 the perpetrators were holding MS's head, hand, feet, and stripped him naked, pinned him, and abused him.

"(They, ed) harassed me by scribbling on my testicles using markers", said MS in a chain message he sent because he felt it was his last resort.

"This incident traumatized me and I lost my emotional stability. How can this kind of evil harassment happen at the Central KPI? What kind of syndicate is the perpetrator? They even documented my gender and made me powerless against them after the tragedy", he added.

As a result of the harassment and bullying she received, MS's mentality changed and he experienced severe stress, humiliation, and severe trauma. In fact, he admitted, often shouted to himself in the middle of the night.

This bullying then repeated in 2017 when Central KPI employees conducted technical guidance at the Prima Cipayung Resort. Around midnight while he was asleep, the perpetrators threw him in the pool and laughed at him.

MS admitted that he had reported the harassment and bullying he experienced to National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) on August 11, 2017, which was then responded to a month later.

At that time, MS said, what he experienced was a form of crime and he was advised to report it to the police. However, his report at the Gambir Police in 2019 was not received and he was asked to resolve the problem internally.

MS did do this and eventually, his workplace was moved to a safer place. "But since the complaint, the perpetrators have ridiculed me as a weak human being and a snitch. They have not been sanctioned at all", he said.

Then in 2020, he tried to report again. However, the officers again took the sexual harassment and bullying he experienced as not a serious thing.

"At the police station, the officers didn't take my story seriously and instead said, 'Well, sir, where is the number of the person who harassed you, let me call them.'", he said.

MS is disappointed because reports of sexual harassment and bullying that he experienced in the Central KPI environment were not taken seriously. Moreover, what he did was in accordance with the recommendation of Komnas HAM where MS was asked to report alleged criminal acts.

"Why is my suffering being underestimated? Isn't it possible for a man to be a victim of bullying and sexual harassment?", he said.

"I don't want mediation or a settlement. I'm afraid I will become a victim of their revenge, especially since we are in the same office which makes my position vulnerable", added MS.