Thirty-eight-year-old A, carrying her 8-month-old son, MF, stands in water flooding her house in Beting Remaja kampong of RW 019 community unit, Tugu Utara subdistrict, North Jakarta, Wednesday (27/9). She stands in front of a cabinet holding several broken-down television sets that her husband will repair and resell. Facing dire financial straits, A had given MF away to be cared by another family in exchange for Rp 2 million, and then fought for his return.
A mother whose baby had just been returned to her, kept hugging, cuddling and kissing him. A month earlier, the eight-month old baby, MF, was sold for Rp 2 million to another family due to financial strife.
That afternoon on Wednesday (27/9), the house of the baby’s parents – 38-year-old A and 39-year-old P –in Beting Remaja kampong of RW 019 community unit, Tugu Utara subdistrict, North Jakarta was flooded with 15 centimeters of water. The flooding followed the incessant rain that had been falling since early morning. "Usually, if it stays flooded until evening, we just sit around, unable to sleep," P said.
With his feet submerged, A cuddled MF. It was the second night the baby was back at his biological parents\' house after he had spent more than a month with another family, a month full of regret for A.
Last month, A had handed over MF to three female brokers, M, R, and S. The three said they would be able to "help" A get in touch with a family who could raise MF properly. As compensation, A received Rp 2 million to use as capital. "I asked for help so that my child could be healthy and protected, rather than live in misery with me," A said.
He made the decision after quarreling with his wife, P, about the family\'s financial problems. However, in the end he regretted his decision and wanted MF back. He urged his wife to beg M to return MF. They know M, who once stayed at their house for a month.
However, M asked for Rp 4 million in cash for the return of their child, a demand impossible to meet because of P’s unstable income from his work repairing electronic devices. "I asked for a photo of my son, so that I could look at him when I missed him," said A.
Hearing the story of P and A, Tugu Utara RW 019 community unit head Ricardo Hutahaean asked to meet with the three female brokers to ask for the MF’s return. They finally met the three at M’s house in Warakas, North Jakarta, on Tuesday (26/9).
Ricardo asked about MF’s whereabouts several times, but the three brokers did not give definitive responses. The three even reminded P and A that they had not given them the money that they had promised to pay in installments in exchange for MF’s return. Ricardo got angry. "Where is the baby?" he yelled at them.
He reminded that those involved in MF’s illegal adoption could be charged with the crime of human trafficking. Selling children is forbidden under Article 76F of the Law on Child Protection. Those violating the rule may be subject to 3-15 years in prison and a fine of Rp 60 million to Rp 300 million.
In order to avoid any legal entanglements, S finally called a relative who had been raising MF and asked to bring the baby back to A.
Deceived
Ricardo felt deceived because seven years ago, he had also uncovered the illegal sale of a baby in his kampong. A similar case had almost occurred again.
Ricardo revealed that 25 babies from Beting Remaja kampong had been sold during the 1990-2010 period. “They were sold for Rp 1million each. Usually, this was only to cover the costs of the birth,” he said (Kompas, 16/2/2010).
Fifteen years ago, a Saudi Arabian man visited one of the parents, Aminah, 43. He claimed he had no children for 12 years and asked Aminah to give him her fourth child, a newborn.
As usual, the compensation was not much, as in the case of A and P. Aminah received a mere Rp 200,000as compensation for the herbal medicine, while the man covered the childbirth costs. Aminah heard during her treatment at the hospital delivery cost Rp 1.5 million. She said she did not look to make a profit.
"The most important thing is a future, rather than living in misery with their parents. Even finding food is not easy," said Aminah. She and her husband, Taman, 44, have worked as street singers since they got married. Their combined daily income is Rp 25,000-Rp 30,000. On a lucky day, they can make Rp 100,000.
The child trade in Beting Remaja kampong is the tip of the poverty problem faced by local residents. The kampong is home to 845 families, about 72 percent of whom live below the poverty line (monthly per capita income of Rp 361,990).
A deviant act is considered normal in the face of severe poverty. Ricardo is used to facing various problems ensuing from poverty, ranging from domestic violence to sexual violence and petty crimes.
Small victory
Ricardo was confident the situation could be turned around with the proper guidance. A guidance program was designed in 1997. In 2006, the Wadah Titian Harapan women’s advocacy and empowerment organization became involved and Ricardo joined the advocacy team. They struggled to cut down on the impact of bad behavior, especially for the sake of protecting children.
Its community development program includes learning and training to encourage children\'s creativity. Those who have reached adolescence are asked to help teach their younger siblings. They are also obliged to take part in a social counseling program to share their problems and search for solution among peers of the same age.
Slowly but surely, their struggles have borne fruit. Many children in the program were able to graduate from vocational schools and find work. Their self-esteem has grown. These are Beting Remaja kampong’s small victories in the fight against poverty. The infant MF, who is back in his mother’s embrace, is also a kind of victory in their fight. However, it is still far from over.
