Komnas PA Is Not Only Mistaken For 'Anjay', They Also Do Not Understand The Root Causes Of Child Bullying In Indonesia

Photo illustration (Chinh Le Duc / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) issued a ban on the use of the word "anjay". To them, the word is a curse that perpetuates bullying. Komnas PA is not only misinterpreting language. They also don't understand what the real root of the bullying problem is.

Linguist from Jakarta State University, Krisanjaya criticized Komnas PA's meaning of the word "anjay". Arist Merdeka Sirait Cs is clearly wrong. According to him, it is necessary to deepen the contextual meaning to determine the use of the word "anjay", either as admiration or as a curse, even as a curse.

"Regarding the word 'anjay' classified as verbal violence, it must be seen from its contextual meaning," Krisanjaya said when contacted by VOI, Monday, August 31.

We will not discuss this issue too long. There is no need for real debate. As Krisanjaya said, it is very difficult to interpret the word "anjay" as a form of bullying.

"If the use of the word is used as self-affirmation, then it is not classified as a word with verbal abuse content. For example in the sentence, 'Anjay, I forgot to bring a helmet,'" Krisanjaya said.

Another matter. Komnas PA doesn't seem to understand the real problem of child bullying in Indonesia. Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR Marwan Dasopang said the problem of child bullying is not as simple as prohibiting the use of diction. There are so many problems that must also be homework together.

Prohibition, however, is not the best way to control children's behavior, especially when it includes criminal threats. What is more appropriate to do is to build positive character through education.

"Well, besides studying, their time is for joking. Joking ends up making fun of each other, bullying. That's what we hope to find a solution in the midst of this pandemic so that character (formation) is carried out immediately," Marwan told VOI, Monday, August 31. .

Case and criminal figures

Marwan is right. The problem of bullying is increasingly threatening children in Indonesia. Data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) shows a consistent increase in cases of child bullying in Indonesia. In the last nine years (2011-2019), there were 37,381 complaints submitted to KPAI.

Of these, there were 2,473 cases of bullying. KPAI Commissioner for Civil Rights and Children's Participation, Jastra Putra, said that the problem of bullying is an iceberg phenomenon. We can see two thousand children become victims of bullying. But we will find even greater numbers if we "look into the sea level".

"The trend continues to increase. Data on children's complaints to KPAI are like an iceberg phenomenon, "said Jastra, quoted from the RMOL article, Monday, August 31.

Child abuse is usually repeated. The triggers are many. One of the biggest is repressivity.

"Generally, bullying is an act repeatedly done by children. The trigger is very much because the social control of society which changes more aggressively and quickly, is very easy for children to imitate. Likewise, repressive repetition, "said Jastra.

If the experience of repressiveness is the biggest cause of bullying, then, is it appropriate to apply prohibitions and criminal threats to stop bullying? Deputy Chairperson of Commission VIII DPR Marwan Dasopang said the call for punishment against the words "anjay" was inappropriate.

"I don't think it's a crime. It just needs guidance. Moreover, the vocabulary of 'anjay' is not found in our vocabulary," said Marwan.