Shows A 13-Year-Old Boy During A Press Conference, Child Observer Suspects Police Violate The SPPA Law

A room for SMPN 2 Pringsurat, Temanggung Regency caught fire with a police line (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Child and Education observer, Retno Listyarti spoke up regarding the appearance of the Son of Behardapan Hukum (ABH), R in a press conference and the police who accompanied him using a long-barreled weapon. He strongly suspects that the police do not understand Law no. 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA) and do not understand the Convention on Child Rights, especially regarding the best interests of children.

According to him, even though R's son has committed a criminal act of vandalism, he who is currently 13 years old should not be shown in a press conference. Moreover, he was accompanied by the police with a long-barreled weapon, because R would not be able to escape and fight the authorities.

"Showing R's child in a press conference even if you use a face covering, you have the potential to be strong in revealing your child's identity. Television, print and electronic media can certainly display R's child's physical appearance and will definitely zoom in on the closed part of the face, meaning that the police actually facilitate the media violating Article 19 of the SPPA Law," said Retno in her statement, Sunday, July 2.

Retno also assessed that the actions taken by the police against R would have a negative impact on the child's future. Because, he will have the potential to have difficulty getting his new school, because it is considered a dangerous criminal.

"In fact, R's child has the right to receive education even as a criminal, because he is still a minor. R's child also has the right to continue his future even though he has been punished. It is all guaranteed in the Child Protection Law," he said.

Therefore, he urged Irwasun Polri and Kompolnas to act according to their authority to investigate alleged violations of the PA Law and the SPPA Law carried out by the police.

Then for the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) it must also speak up and act immediately. In addition, the Press Council must also supervise and guide the media who are suspected of violating Article 19 of the SPPA Law in its broadcast.

"Hopefully this incident will be a lesson for all parties to be sensitive and have the perspective of child protection," he concluded.

For information, a R student has been arrested by the police for allegedly burning his school, because he was hurt by being a victim of bullying by his friends and teachers at SMP Negeri 2 Pringsurat School, Temanggung Regency, on Tuesday, June 27, early in the morning.

"The suspect's official R is based on a number of evidences found at the location as well as from CCTV footage at the school," said Temanggung Police Chief AKBP Agus Puryadi in Temanggung, Wednesday.

Caption: ABH, R which was displayed release by the police (Doc.Special/Voi)