Ministry of Social Affairs Sends LDP Team Accompanying Children Shackled and Chained in Purbalingga

PURBALINGGA (March 17, 2021) - The Ministry of Social Affairs through the "Antasena" Children's Center Magelang sent a Psychosocial Support Service Team (LDP) to accompany children who were held captive and chained at their homes. MNA, a 7-year-old boy, was held and chained by his biological father in the kitchen of his house located in RT. 2 RW. 5 Kalimanah Kulon Village, Kalimanah District, Purbalingga Regency.

The confinement lasted for 3 days, from Wednesday 10 March to Friday 12 March 2021. The biological mother of the victim who wanted to release MNA also received harsh treatment from her husband. Neighbors and local residents who knew about the incident finally helped the victim's mother free her child and reported the victim's father to the village apparatus. The perpetrator, who is the victim's father, has now been handed over to the authorities.

The LDP team from “Antasena” Children's Center together with the Social Work Service Unit (SAKTI PEKSOS) of Purbalingga Regency met MNA, who currently lives with his mother in his grandmother's rented house in Patemon Village, Bojongsari District, Purbalingga Regency.

The purpose of the arrival of the LDP Team is to conduct an assessment, provide psychosocial assistance and support to MNA and his mother and fulfill MNA's basic needs as the implementation of the Social Rehabilitation Assistance Program or ATENSI from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"The LDP team provided psychosocial support to victims so that what they experienced, especially the trauma they experienced, could gradually recover and be able to carry out their daily lives normally," said the Social Worker of the "Antasena" Children's Center, Kristin Anita Sufiani who represented the Head of the Center.

The victim's psychological condition is now starting to improve and has begun to interact with other people. MNA even expressed her hope to the LDP Team, where MNA wanted the love of his parents and hoped that his father would not beat his again. MNA also always jokes with his mother because MNA's relationship with his mother is very close.

The Head of Kalimanah Village, Kulon Sugiyono, expressed his gratitude for the concern of the "Antasena" Children's Center for the case that occurred. "This incident serves as a lesson for parents and the general public not to commit violence against children because they can face the law," he said.

The sub-district head of Kalimanah Titis Panjer Rahino said that all forms of violence against children were not justified by anyone and promised to provide guidance to all village heads in his area.

In addition to providing psychosocial support, the "Antasena" Children's Center LDP Team also provided assistance in meeting basic needs for MNA in the form of milk, vitamins, honey and additional food as well as educational games.