Kukuh S. Wibowo, Jakarta – The Center for the Study and Protection of Children (Yayasan Pusat Kajian dan Perlindungan Anak, or PKPA) rejects the West Java Provincial Government's policy of sending troubled or deviant children to military barracks for rehabilitation.
"The militaristic approach to children facing the law or with social problems does not address the root of the real problem, namely the failure of the parenting system at the family level and the lack of child protection-based interventions at the local level," said PKPA Executive Director Keumala Dewi, as quoted from Antara, yesterday, May 7, 2025.
She believes that many of these children are actually victims of neglect, violence, or family dysfunction. Keumala Dewi argues that the first rehabilitation should start from home and family system support.
"When a child makes a mistake, what needs to be addressed is the environment and the support system, not just the child being placed in a harsh and closed rehabilitation system," she said.
Previously, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi rolled out a plan to "educate" problematic students in the province by educating them in military barracks, which was implemented starting from May 2, 2025.
Students who were sent to the TNI (Indonesian Military) headquarters included those suspected of being involved in brawls, smoking, and drug abuse. They were sent with the consent of their parents and will undergo education for a minimum of two weeks up to six months.
When inspecting the implementation of the program in Purwakarta on Saturday, May 3, 2025, Dedi mentioned that the character building for students at the TNI Headquarters of the 1st/Sthira Armed Resimen/1 Kostrad in Purwakarta had a positive impact on improving student discipline.
"This program (character building for students at the TNI headquarters) has had a positive impact on improving student discipline," said Dedi.
The Cianjur Regency Government of West Java carried out the program for 30 junior high school students in Cianjur on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. These students were accompanied by their respective parents to the military base. Cianjur Regent Mohamad Wahyu Ferdian said that they monitored and recorded junior high school students involved in mischief. A total of 30 students were frequently involved in brawls, violence, and drunkenness.
"Monitoring was carried out in several areas in Cianjur, where there were dozens of troubled junior high school students, so we coordinated with parents and offered a rehabilitation program that received a positive response," he said.
According to Wahyu, most of the parents of troubled students voluntarily entrusted their children to receive rehabilitation in military barracks. He hopes that these children can change for the better for their still long future. The Cianjur Regency Government began implementing barracks rehabilitation for students considered troubled or deviant with an education-based national defense approach in cooperation with Kodim 0608 Cianjur.
Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai supports Governor Dedi Mulyadi's policy. However, Pigai stipulated a condition, namely that the troubled children should not be subjected to corporal punishment or physical punishment. According to Pigai, pinching or hitting is a form of physical punishment.
"Pinching the ear, hitting, or kicking to instill discipline, that is called corporal punishment," said Pigai at the Ministry of Human Rights Office, South Jakarta, Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
According to Pigai, physical punishment violates human rights. Therefore, students sent to military barracks should not receive physical punishment.
Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission Atnike Nova Sigiro hopes that Dedi Mulyafi will review the program. "Actually, it is not the authority of the TNI to conduct education, civic education," said Atnike after an event at the Komnas HAM office, last Friday.
– Daniel A. Fajri and Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article.