Organizers Take Firm Action For Cases Of Sexual Harassment In Synchronize Fest

David Karto, Director of the Synchronize Fest Festival (Ivan Two Men/VOI)

JAKARTA - David Karto as Director of the Synchronize Fest Festival ensures that his party does not tolerate sexual harassment. This is shown by the disappearance of one of the performers in the line-up line-up for this year's event, Harum Manis.

As is known, Harum Manis is included in the Synchronize Fest 2025 line-up line-up. However, ahead of a press conference in Kemang, South Jakarta on Wednesday, September 10, the unit from Jakarta was removed from the ranks of the performers.

David did not specifically talk about the case faced by Harum Manis. However, as is known, one of the founders, Sulthon Kamil, became a conversation on social media due to alleged sexual harassment of underage women.

"And this morning we heard something that was going viral, which in the end we also decided earlier, just before this press conference, we took it down (from line up)," said David Karto, met after the press conference.

There is no official announcement to be given Synchronize Fest. Organizers choose not to confuse the atmosphere.

"We will not announce it. Because the atmosphere is very sensitive. We don't want everything to be an additional problem," said David.

"For all my friends, it's hard. So we are silent, but everything is in process with commitment. And the social justice is already running. Yes, it's gone viral," he added. "So we don't have to add to the stone anymore, we don't need to be beaten anymore, so that's it. But if the question is we have to take a stand, we'll take a stand."

Furthermore, David also talked about the vulnerability of music festivals as a place for sexual harassment. Therefore, Synchronize Fest provides a Safe Room so that those who are victims can immediately report what happened.

"Last year's synchronize has also started a movement, called the Safe Room," said David.

"Yes, we cannot deny that we realize that festivals or music are one of the originators of sexual violence, conscious or unconscious, when the fun is going on... We are quite harsh, in that harsh sense we commit, if there is one of the performers associated with it all, we must lower it. Yes, I'm sorry once again. If we don't want to start something with a commitment, this won't go for a long time. We haven't learned to be better, because our accountability is Generation Z and Alpha, the next one will come in. We will give a good example. But this is not just a matter of ideals, but how this space will get better and we will continue to develop for even better, "he said.