Safari Park Does Not Want To Be Associated With The Complaints Of Torture Of Former OCI Cup Players

Situasi di Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI), Cisarua, Kabupaten Bogor, Jawa Barat. ANTARA/M Fikri Setiawan

JAKARTA - Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) Group stated that it did not want to be linked to a complaint about the torture of former Indonesian Circes (OCI) circus players who were submitted to Deputy Minister of Human Rights (Wamen HAM) Mugiyanto on Tuesday 15 April.

Head of Media and Digital Taman Safari Indonesia Group Finky Santika Nh explained that the TSI Group has no business relationship or relationship with former circus players who are members of the OCI.

"We understand that in the forum there are mentions of individual names. However, we consider that the problem is personal and has nothing to do with the Indonesian Safari Park Group institutionally," said Finky in his statement, Thursday, April 17, which was confiscated by Antara.

He requested that the name and reputation of the Taman Safari Indonesia Group not be left behind in problems that are not part of the company's responsibility.

Especially, he said, the complaint was submitted without clear evidence because it could have implications for legal accountability.

"We invite the public to be wise in responding to information circulating in the digital space and not easily influenced by content that has no clear facts or links," he said.

Previously, TSI Commissioner Tony Sumampau, who is also active in OCI, acted as animal trainer, explained that OCI and Taman Safari Indonesia were two different legal entities.

This issue had surfaced in 1997 and was handled by Komnas HAM, which at that time was led by Ali Said, and the results of his search found that the children came from one area in Jakarta.

Tony said that at that time children had to spend time in a circus environment, such as eating, bathing, resting and even studying.

"When it was all working, the children ate, rested, showed, and studied there was a time. If there was violence, maybe I would also be hit because I was there too," said Tony.

Deputy Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto received an audience from a number of former Indonesian Oriental Circes workers at the Ministry of Human Rights Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, April 15.

On that occasion, he listened to complaints related to alleged human rights violations they experienced.

"We listen to them, there is a possibility that there are a lot of criminal acts that occur there," he said.

Although the alleged violence that led to human rights violations occurred in the past, according to him, does not mean that the criminal acts committed cannot be investigated.

"Moreover, we have had the Criminal Code since Indonesia's independence," he said.