Update Feb. 14: The three male students — identified by their initials as 16-year-old TP, 15-year-old DF and UH — have been charged with violating Indonesia’s Child Protection Law, which carries a maximum sentence of three years and six months in prison. The victim, who’s identified as 16-year-old CA and reportedly disabled, suffers bruises on the right side of her waist from the assault. Police in Purworejo are still questioning several people as witnesses, including F, the student who recorded the assault.
Original story follows.
A video of three male junior high school students assaulting their helpless female classmate has gone viral on social media.
Recorded inside the classroom, the victim is seen crying in pain in her seat as the alleged assailants kicked and hit her with their hands and broomsticks. The three male students appeared to be enjoying bullying the girl, and laughter was also heard coming from other classmates behind the camera.
The incident took place at Muhammadiyah Butuh Junior High School, a private Islamic school in the Purworejo regency of Central Java. A teacher at the school, named Tutik, said the bullying occurred inside an 8th grade classroom while no teacher was present.
Tutik said the three male students are among the school’s naughtiest pupils.
“Yes, the children are troublesome, they’re also transfer students from other schools,” Tutik told Detik today.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has stepped in on the matter after hearing concerns from the public.
Akun sy dibanjiri kejadian di salah satu smp di butuh purworejo. Sy sdh telp kaseknya & dia sdh urus. Polisi juga sdh menerima laporannya. Bsk saya minta pengawas sekolah & dinas utk turun agar bicara dg ortu anak2 itu. Pak Bupati Purworejo jg sdh sy kontak. — Sayangi temanmu! pic.twitter.com/MXKV1xDno5
— Ganjar Pranowo (@ganjarpranowo) February 12, 2020
“My Twitter account is flooded [by reports] about an incident at a junior high school in Butuh Purworejo. I have called the principal and it’s been taken care of. Police have also received the report. Tomorrow I will ask the school’s supervisor and agency to talk to the parents of the students.I have also contacted the Purworejo regent. Love your friends!” Ganjar tweeted last night.
Purworejo Police apprehended the three alleged bullies last night for questioning. It’s not yet known what punishments they could face. Meanwhile, there have been no reports of any physical injuries sustained by the girl, who has stayed out of the media spotlight after the video went viral.
Like many other countries, there is a strong culture of bullying amongst school children in Indonesia that can leave the victims feeling depressed on top of the physical pain. In 2015, a study by the Social Ministry showed that 40 percent of child suicides in Indonesia were the result of bullying.
