KPAI probes video of a boy who read pantun during 211 rally

JAKARTA — Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) investigated reports over video of a boy who read pantun that contained invitation to people to choose candidate pair number 02 during tawheed (Laa Ilaha Ilallah, the oneness of God) defense rally II or 211 rally on last Friday (Nov 2). KPAI received many reports from public.

“A number of reports from people. So we continue to investigate it,” said KPAI chairman Susanto on Monday (Nov 5).

Meanwhile, KPAI commissioner Retno Listyarti said if the video was true, then it has fulfilled child abuse element in political activity. KPAI also encouraged Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) to investigate the case.

“KPAI encourages Bawaslu to investigate the report as it is the agency duties and authorities,” Retno said on Monday (Nov 5).

According to Retno, in tawheed defense rally event, there should not be a political campaign message which involved children. She stressed children must not be included in political activity or event to be used as campaigners of any party.

Also read: Tawheed rally participants conveys four demand to govt

The video showed a boy aged 10-11 years delivered a speech in front of a podium. The kid closed his speech with a pantun, which invite the people to forget incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his running mate, KH Ma’ruf Amin and choose presidential pair number two, Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno.

The following is the pantun read by the boy :

Jalan-jalan ke Kelapa Dua

Jangan lupa mampir ke toko sepatu

Eh lu pade jangan lupa pilih nomor dua

Lupain yang nomor satu.

Earlier, spokesperson coordinator of national agency to win (BPN) pair of presidential candidate number two, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said his camp never directed the masses to run president change movement. He assessed declaring political choice, does not mean a person is a part of the success team.

“Anyone can express and no one can control when the mass gathered like that,” Dahnil said in Jakarta on Saturday.

On other hand, Dahnil also criticized the narrative that stated tawheed defense rally was infiltrated by radical interests. He considered, this was an attempt by certain groups to spread fear.

“Unfortunately, there are people who spread fear when there is an action, there is accusation of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) as radical group,” Dahnil added.