TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A petition in a site change.org urging the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) and the Regional Child Protection Commission (KPPAD) defend a persecution victim, a junior high student in Pontianak identified as AY (14). The girl was brutally beaten by other 12 students over a dispute on a male friend and posts on social media.

Fachira Anindy first posted the petition titled “KPAI dan KPPAD, Segera Berikan Keadilan Untuk Audrey #JusticeForAudrey!” (KPAI and KPPAD, Please Immediately Provide Justice for Audrey #JusticeForAudrey!).

Until this news is written, the petition has received just over 1.8 million signatures. The hashtag has even become the world trending on Twitter.

The petition noted the statement conveyed by West Kalimantan KPPAD deputy head, Tumbur Manalu, in media regarding a student AY was a victim of persecution committed by a number of people on Friday, March 29, 2019.

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“The act [persecution] occurred two weeks ago, on Friday, March 29, 2019. The victim's parents reported the case on Friday, April 5, 2019. The South Pontianak Sector Police received the complaint, and we from KPPAD immediately received it also," said Manalu during a press conference at the KPPAD's office, on Monday, April 8, as quoted from the petition.

Manalu explained that the victim did not immediately file a police report at the time because of threats from the perpetrators. As for the motive, Manalu added, was based on a dispute over a boy.

AY was brutally bullied in two different locations, Jalan Sulawesi and Akcaya Park. Referred to the petition, AY was still undergoing intensive care at a private hospital in Pontianak. She faced physical and psychological trauma.

As reported from Antara, Pontianak Police has investigated the case. "We formally withdraw this case from the South Pontianak Sector Police to be handled by Pontianak Resort Police," said the Pontianak Police criminal investigation unit head Comr. Muhammad Husni Ramli in Pontianak, Tuesday, April 9.

Husni said that the investigation on the persecution against the student AY is underway and that the police is still questioning witnesses.

RYAN DWIKY ANGGRIAWAN | CHANGE.ORG | ANTARA