OMM Redaksiyası
Sixty parents in Indonesia have filed a police complaint after their children fell ill following meals provided under the government’s free school meal program. The complaint seeks the first legal investigation into President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship initiative.
The complaint was filed against the National Nutrition Agency, the kitchen that prepared the meals and the schools that distributed them to students. No specific person was named as a suspect, and no criminal charges have been brought so far.
Lawyer Aslia Sijabat said the parents were seeking an investigation into possible negligence, the identification of suspects, the opening of criminal proceedings and compensation for the affected families.
The complaint was submitted on Aug. 31, but the details were disclosed to the media only on Thursday. Fitri Sijabat, who lives in Karo district, said at least 300 students at several high schools in North Sumatra’s Karo area fell ill after eating the free meals in mid-August. Some of them were hospitalized.
Fitri Sijabat’s 17-year-old daughter, Agnes, was among those affected. She was taken to hospital and discharged the following day. Several days later, however, she was hospitalized again after experiencing nausea, itching and numbness. Agnes received hospital treatment four times over a month.
“I hope they will stop the program. If our children end up in this condition, why should the state budget be wasted?” Fitri Sijabat said.
Lawyer Aslia Sijabat said similar incidents had occurred in other parts of the country. She said the failure to identify suspects in those cases had created an environment of impunity. The parents are also preparing to file a separate lawsuit against the government.
Karo police are awaiting the results of forensic tests on food samples. The tests are being conducted at the North Sumatra police forensic laboratory. Police spokesperson Pedoman Maha said investigators were also questioning students, teachers and a nutrition specialist.
The incident comes amid problems linked to the program in Indonesia. Mass food poisoning cases have been reported in various parts of the country in recent weeks. More than 2,000 people fell ill last week after eating meals provided under the program in several provinces.
The free meal program, one of Prabowo’s election pledges, has a budget of 229 trillion rupiah, or about $13 billion, for the current period. It aims to provide food to 83 million schoolchildren and pregnant women across Indonesia.
The program’s budget has already been cut once, and two leaders have been replaced. One of the former heads is under police investigation over corruption allegations. Since its launch, the initiative has faced allegations of mismanagement and corruption. More than 50,000 cases of food poisoning linked to the program have reportedly been recorded.
