Ruslan Sangadji, Palu, Central Sulawesi – Residents of Palu, Central Sulawesi, have launched a "100 Sandals for Children" movement to support the 15-year-old boy facing five years' imprisonment for allegedly stealing the sandals of a Palu Police officer.

The residents chose to use sandals as a symbol of injustice, according to Sofyan Farid Lembah, head of the Central Sulawesi branch of the National Commission for Children Protection's (Komnas PA).

"We are making an alliance for Central Sulawesi children to demand justice. Children should not be punished, but educated," said Sofyan.

A member of the Indonesian Children's Congress, Taufiqqurrahman Madakara, 16, demanded that authorities drop all charges against AAL. "We also demand that police and prosecutors to be discriminate in handling legal cases," the SMAN 1 Palu state senior high school student said.

Central Sulawesi Prosecutor Isa Ansyari said he had not been briefed on the case. "I have forwarded the case to the Attorney General because it's already on trial."

Separately, Central Sulawesi Governor Longky Djanggola said that enforcement of the law must take into account the people's sense of justice. "I don't have the authority to stop the legal proceedings. I can only ask for law enforcement agencies to reconsider," he said.

Central Sulawesi Legislative Council Deputy Speaker Hendry Kawulur questioned what police had done to the child, saying they should have been focused on "big cases" instead of a boy who stole a pair of sandals.

AAL was detained for allegedly stealing sandals valued at Rp 35,000 (US$3.82) from First Brig. Ahmad Rusli Harahap. A Central Sulawesi Police officer, First Brig. Simson Jones Sipayung, was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment on Thursday for beating AAL in police custody.