Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has received reports about the involvement of children in a massive rally staged by Islamic groups around the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Sunday.
KPAI commissioner Jasra Putra said on Monday that people had submitted reports through Facebook about children having to walk far, because public transportation vehicles refused to pick up rally participants.
Jasra said children's rights were potentially violated at the rally, as reported by tempo.co.
"Bringing children to such an activity potentially violates their rights, especially their right to free time for resting," Jasra said on Monday, citing Law No. 35/2014 on child protection.
He said the children had been brought on long trips without considering their safety, while some of the children were seen voicing their support for one of the presidential candidates during the rally.
According to Article 15 of the Child Protection Law, children should not be involved in political activities. "The KPAI is on the side of the children, so [we want] all the [political camps] to look out for what's best for the children," Jasra said.
He said the KPAI had requested that the local administration advise participants in public protests, such as Sunday's so-called 212 rally, not to bring their children along, to prevent unwanted incidents.
The rally was the second event – dubbed by the protesters a "reunion" – on the anniversary of the Dec. 2, 2016, rally that called for the prosecution of then-Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama over blasphemy. The rally was attended by various Islamic groups and opposition figures. (ami)