Check KPI Employees Regarding Alleged Harassment Of MS, Komnas HAM Explores Working Situation And Conditions

Komnas HAM Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara (Photo: Rizky/VOI)

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) asked for information from three employees of the Central Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), accompanied by one person from the legal department. They were asked for information to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and bullying experienced by MS.

Komnas HAM Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara said there were a number of things to explore, including finding out about the situation and working conditions within the Central KPI.

"(Requesting, ed) available information related to the situation or conditions of the working atmosphere within the KPI environment," Beka told reporters at his office, Jalan Latuharhary, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, September 22.

The summons for the employees were based on MS's written statement which was circulated some time ago, in which they worked in the same department.

Beka said that from the statements of the three employees, there was nothing strange about KPI's work environment. According to him, the employees there support each other and often talk about their work.

Furthermore, Komnas HAM also summoned them to explore the response given to the incident experienced by MS. Considering that all three claimed to have heard firsthand the acts of harassment and bullying.

"Yes, so they explained that listening only heard the existing cases and then they tried to advise MS to take the necessary steps," said Beka.

"(They, ed) heard (the incident of harassment and bullying, ed) directly from MS," he added. As previously reported, the alleged case of sexual harassment at KPI emerged after the alleged victim, MS, wrote an open letter which went viral on Wednesday, September 1 last.

MS in the article admitted that he had been a victim of bullying by his co-workers since working at KPI in 2012. Then, in 2015 he was sexually harassed by five of his more senior colleagues.

MS admitted that he had reported this to his superiors and the Gambir Police in 2019, but the report was never followed up.

After the open letter went viral, KPI and the police started to investigate this case. KPI has disabled 8 alleged perpetrators of sexual harassment and bullying against MS to facilitate investigations.