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Friday, 26 May 2023

Google Removes ‘Slavery Simulator’ Game From App Store Following A Wave Of Criticism In Brazil

Screengrab of 'Slavery Simulator' game Photograph:( Others )

Google has removed a game from its online store in Brazil which allowed players to trade and torture enslaved people, following criticism from figures in the South American country who say the US tech giant and the game’s developer should be held to account.

A game entitled “Slavery Simulator,” where players can “buy and sell” enslaved Black characters, has been taken down from Google’s app store after widespread criticism from Brazilian social media users.

The app, developed by Magnus Games, was launched on Google’s Play Store on April 20 and was downloaded more than 1000 times before it was removed on Wednesday, according to a statement from Google.

On Wednesday, Brazil’s Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into why the game was made available on the Play Store in the first place, it said in a statement.

The game – called ‘Slavery Simulator’ – casts the player in the role of a slave owner who can buy and sell black characters, and inflict various forms of torture on them. It was withdrawn from Google’s online store in Brazil on Wednesday, a little over a month after its release, but remains playable for the more than 1,000 people who downloaded it over the past four weeks, according to the Brazilian publication Globo.

One review of the game in the Google Play store describes it as “excellent to pass the time but lacking more torture options.”

The game has prompted an outcry in Brazil. “Blatant racism,” Renata Souza, a black activist and politician in Rio de Janeiro, tweeted on Wednesday. “The image illustrating the game has a white man surrounded by black men. It is absurdly violent. Google and the developer must answer for this crime of hatred and racism.”

Brazil’s ministry for racial equality said it has contacted the developer, Magnus Games, as well as Google to implement measures to restrict racist content online. It added that the people behind the game will be held legally responsible, the Guardian reported on Thursday.

“The racial equality ministry reiterates its irreversible commitment to eliminating racial inequalities and promoting policies that curb the dissemination of racist content online, in football stadiums, and in society as a whole,” the governmental body said in a statement this week, referencing the abuse directed at Brazilian footballer Vinicius Junior during a recent game in Spain.

The legislature in the South American country is currently considering proposals which aim to require social media companies to implement measures to reduce criminal or dangerous content spread by their platforms. This comes after tech companies in Brazil – including its Google office – were criticized for a failure to adequately moderate racist or criminal content.

Brazil is estimated to have transported around 4 million slaves from Africa before it implemented the so-called ‘Golden Law’ in 1888 which abolished slavery in all forms. It was the last country in the Americas to do so.

Prosecutors requested “specific information about the game” from Google, adding a “great number of racist comments” were also identified in the Google platform.

Within the game, users could “exchange, buy and sell slaves,” images show. “Choose one of two objectives at the start of the slave owner simulator: the Path of the Tyrant or the Path of the Liberator. Become a wealthy slave owner or achieve the abolition of slaver,y” the game’s description said.

In one of the modes offered to players, the game said, “Use slaves for your own enrichment. Prevent the abolition of slavery and accumulate wealth.”

Throughout the game, prompts to users included: “Slave level: the highest the level, the highest the profit the slave will bring,” and “You need guards! You have slaves but no one is guarding them. Without guards, the slaves will run away or rebel. Hire some fighters. Usually, 1 guard is enough for 30 slaves,” screenshots of the game show.

The game quickly went viral on social media, with multiple people criticizing both the game developers and Google.

“The normalization of violence against Black people is so wide than then things like this happen,” Levi Kaique Ferreira, an influencer activist and professor, wrote on Twitter.

“Our country was built with the blood of the Black population. People were killed, tortured. A “Slavery Simulator” is not a theme for games,” lawmaker Denise Pessoa posted on Twitter.

É UM ABSURDO que um jogo que dissemina a crueldade e o discurso de ódio contra as pessoas negras esteja disponível. Nosso país foi construído com sangue da população negra. Pessoas foram mortas, torturadas. Um “Simulador de Escravidão” não é tema para brincadeiras. pic.twitter.com/KKNdqgXmds
— Denise Pessôa (@denisespessoa) May 24, 2023

Google said: “We have a robust set of policies that are designed to keep users safe and that all developers must follow. We don’t allow apps that promote violence or incite hatred against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, or that depict or promote gratuitous violence or other dangerous activities. Anyone who believes they have found an app that violates our rules can file a report. When we identify a policy violation, we take appropriate action”.

According to Google’s own platform, the application had a rating for “all ages.”

Elon Musk's Neuralink says has FDA approval for study of brain implants in humans

Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink on Thursday said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had given the green light to its first-in-human clinical trial, a critical milestone after earlier struggles to gain approval.

The FDA nod "represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people," Neuralink said in a tweet. It did not elaborate on the aims of the study, saying only that it was not recruiting yet and more details would be available soon.

Neuralink and the FDA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Musk envisions brain implants could cure a range of conditions including obesity, autism, depression and schizophrenia as well as enabling web browsing and telepathy. He made headlines late last year when he said he was so confident in the devices' safety that he would be willing to implant them in his children.

On at least four occasions since 2019, Musk predicted Neuralink would begin human trials. But the company only sought FDA approval in early 2022 and the agency rejected the application, seven current and former employees told Reuters in March.

The FDA had pointed out several concerns to Neuralink that needed to be addressed before sanctioning human trials, according to the employees. Major issues involved the lithium battery of the device, the possibility of the implant's wires migrating within the brain, and the challenge of safely extracting the device without damaging brain tissue.

Neuralink, founded in 2016, has been the subject of several federal probes.

In May, U.S. lawmakers urged regulators to investigate whether the makeup of a panel overseeing animal testing at Neuralink contributed to botched and rushed experiments.

Musk has prematurely touted regulatory approval before. In 2017, he wrote on Twitter that his tunneling firm, The Boring Company, has received “verbal govt approval” for an underground Hyperloop from New York to DC. Officials at the time offered no direct confirmation of Musk’s claim — and it was clear formal measures to approve such a project had not been taken.

The Department of Transportation is separately probing whether Neuralink illegally transported dangerous pathogens on chips removed from monkey brains without proper containment measures.

Neuralink is also under investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General for potential animal-welfare violations. This probe has also been looking at the USDA's oversight of Neuralink.

We are excited to share that we have received the FDA’s approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study!

This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our…
— Neuralink (@neuralink) May 25, 2023

And it makes us wonder: who would sign up for such a thing, and why? Will it be someone who might have an important medical reason or someone who wants to draw the world’s attention at Musk’s side, and is there any chance it’s Elon Musk himself? Musk has claimed he will get the device implanted in his own head at some unspecified time in the future.

Meanwhile, Neuralink has been accused of abusing its monkey test subjects, a claim the company denies, and is under investigation for allegedly transporting contaminated devices removed from monkeys. The FDA rejected an early 2022 Neuralink application for human trials, as reported by Reuters, apparently outlining “dozens of issues” the company needed to address.

What is Neuralink?

Founded in 2016, Neuralink is privately held with operations in Fremont, Calif., and a sprawling, under-construction campus outside of Austin. The company has more than 400 employees and has raised at least $363 million, according to data-provider PitchBook.

With Musk’s backing, Neuralink has brought extraordinary resources — and investor attention — to a field known as brain-computer interface, where scientists and engineers are developing electronic implants that would decode brain activity and communicate it to computers. Such technology, which has been in the works for decades, has the potential to restore function to people with paralysis and debilitating conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Already, companies like Blackrock Neurotech and Synchron have implanted their devices in people for clinical trials, and at least 42 people globally have had brain-computer implants. Such devices have enabled feats that once belonged to the realm of science fiction: a paralyzed man fist-bumping Barack Obama with a robotic hand; a patient with ALS typing by thinking about keystrokes; a tetraplegic patient managing to walk with a slow but natural stride.

While most companies seeking to commercialize brain implants are focused on those with medical needs, Neuralink has even bigger ambitions: creating a device that not only restores human function but enhances it.

“We want to surpass able-bodied human performance with our technology,” Neuralink tweeted in April.

We want to surpass able-bodied human performance with our technology. Using only his mind, here's precision cursor control from Pager (star of Monkey MindPong) achieving 65% and 88% of the median Neuralinker using a mouse. Join us to breakthrough to 110% and beyond!🧠#techtuesday pic.twitter.com/Ugtav0h7Mg
— Neuralink (@neuralink) April 19, 2023

What is Neuralink’s brain chip technology? The company has designed an electrode-laden computer chip to be sewed into the surface of the brain, and a robotic device to perform the surgery. Musk envisions that the devices could be regularly upgraded.

“I’m pretty sure you would not want the iPhone 1 stuck in your head if the iPhone 14 is available,” Musk said at an event in late November, where he predicted Neuralink would begin human trials in six months.

While a significant milestone, a clinical trial for its device in humans is no guarantee of regulatory or commercial success. Neuralink and others are bound to face intense scrutiny by the FDA that their devices are safe and reliable, in addition to facing ethical and security questions raised by a technology that could confer a cognitive advantage to those with an implant.

When will clinical trials in humans begin? It is unclear when clinical trials might begin.

The brain-computer interface represents one of Musk’s most ambitious bets in a business empire that spans from electric cars to rockets propelling humans to space — that has grown to most recently encompass generative artificial intelligence and social media.

Musk earlier this year incorporated a company, X.AI, that aims to compete with Microsoft and Google after the tech giants launched large language-model chatbots that can answer a vast range of queries.

Meanwhile, he has been devoting much of his time in recent months to Twitter, the social media company he purchased last year for $44 billion pledging to restore “free speech.”

Musk’s frenetic schedule has him juggling commitments to each of the companies at once. He travels the country by private jet, visiting his Tesla factories and SpaceX launch sites and engaging in speaking commitments for Twitter and visiting its Bay Area headquarters — sometimes all in the same week. Musk earlier this month announced he was appointing advertising executive Linda Yaccarino as CEO of Twitter, relieving him of some of the responsibility for overseeing the social media platform that has been plunged into chaos since his takeover last year.

Wujudkan Mimpi Messi Argentina Konfirmasi Hadir Ke Indonesia

Penyerang PSG, Lionel Messi hendak mengambil sepak pojok saat melawan Auxerre pada laga pekan ke-36 Liga Prancis 2022/2023, Senin (22/5/2023) WIB. (c) AP Photo/Thibault Camus

Federasi Sepakbola Argentina, AFA, ternyata punya alasan khusus menjadikan Indonesia sebagai negara tujuan mengarak Piala Dunia, yaitu merealisasikan impian Messi.

Messi dan kawan-kawan pun telah menyatakan akan hadir di Indonesia pada 19 Juni 2023 mendatang, melawan Timnas Indonesia bertajuk 'FIFA MATCHDAY'.

Merujuk kepada keinginan sang mega bintang, Lionel Messi yang punya mimpi mengelilingi bumi sebagai juara dunia, dalam gelaran dua FIFA Matchday, AFA memiliki cara khusus dalam menentukan lawan bagi Timnas Argentina. Timnas Indonesia dianggap masuk dan memenuhi persyaratan.

Kepastian tim Tango ke Indonesia telah diumumkan federasi sepak bola Argentina ( AFA) telah terkuak beberapa waktu.

Namun, PSSI baru mengumumkan pertandingan prestisius itu setelah delegasi Argentina datang ke kantor di Jakarta pada Rabu 24 Mei 2023.

Lionel Messi menyiratkan ingin berkeliling dunia sebagai sang juara, tepat setelah mencium trofi terbesar bagi pesepak bola.

"Saya mencintai sepak bola, itu yang saya lakukan," ucap Messi tepat setelah mengangkat trofi di Qatar.

"Saya ingin menikmati beberapa pertandingan lagi sebagai juara dunia," ujarnya.

Pihak AFA kemudian memenuhi keinginan Messi, dimulai dengan FIFA Matchday bulan Maret.

FIFA Matchday bulan Maret lalu adalah kesempatan pertama Lionel Scaloni dapat mengumpulkan timnya sejak berpisah di Qatar.

Timnas Argentina resmi akan bertanding dengan timnas Indonesia, namun satu hal, PSSI bisa belajar dari negeri jiran Malaysia jika ingin melihat Lionel Messi memperkuat Timnas Argentina di laga melawan Timnas Indonesia.

Malaysia pernah punya memori buruk yang berkaitan dengan Messi. Pasalnya La Pulga pernah menolak bermain di sebuah laga persahabatan yang digelar di negara tersebut.

Momen itu terjadi saat Lionel Messi datang bersama Barcelona ke Malaysia pada 2013 silam. La Pulga kala itu dijadwalkan melakoni laga persahabatan melawan Malaysia XI.

Sehari jelang laga, La Pulga terlihat serius melakoni sesi latihan. Namun pada hari pertandingan, ternyata kapten Timnas Argentina tersebut sama sekali tak terlibat dalam laga.

Pemilik Johor Darul Takzim (JDT), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, membeberkan apa alasan Lionel Messi tak bermain di pertandingan tersebut. Ia mengatakan alasannya cukup mendasar.

Dikatakannya, kualitas lapangan Stadion Shah Alam jadi alasan Messi enggan bermain. Tunku Ismail menyebut kejadian itu menjadi pukulan telak buat pihaknya.

"Saya pikir, Anda semua mengetahui inisiden di mana Barcelona datang ke sini. Lionel Messi, pemain terbaik di dunia tidak mau bermain karena kualitas lapangan. Itu merupakan pukulan telak bagi kami saat itu," kata Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim kepada Harian Metro pada 2022.

Timnas Indonesia dijadwalkan menghadapi Argentina pada FIFA Matchday yang berlangsung pada 19 Juni 2023. Berhubung laga digelar di Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK), PSSI wajib memastikan kondisi lapangan bagus dan mumpuni.

Bila dua hal itu terpenuhi, tidak ada alasan buat Lionel Messi menolak bermain melawan Timnas Indonesia di FIFA Matchday. Selain itu, PSSI bisa memasukkan klausul yang mewajibkan Messi untuk bermain.

CEO Nine Sport, Arif Putra Wicaksono, mengaku saat melakukan bidding untuk mendatangkan Timnas Argentina, pihaknya memasukkan klausul denda/penalti dengan jumlah besar bila Messi tidak datang dan bermain. Menurut Arif, adanya aturan semacam ini bisa memaksa Messi untuk bermain.

"Pengalaman kami saat bidding, kami memasang harga penalti yang tinggi dan akan membuat mereka mau tidak mau membawa dan memainkan Messi. Sebab, penalti harganya lumayan besar yang akan membuat mereka berpikir ulang," ucap Arif Putra Wicaksono kepada, hari Selasa, 23/05/2023.

Lionel Messi bakal menjadi magnet dari Timnas Argentina saat ke Indonesia pada FIFA Matchday nanti. Namun, untuk mendatangkan Tim Tango sepaket dengan Messi tentu tak mudah.

Sejumlah kabar beredar perwakilan bintang PSG tersebut meminta fasilitas khusus selama di Indonesia. Mulai dari private jet hingga tak mau berlama-lama di Indonesia.

Arif Putra Wicaksono menyebut, permintaan semacam itu sangatlah wajar mengingat Messi adalah pemain bintang dunia.

"Saya tidak tahu secara benar fasilitas yang diminta Lionel Messi. Soal fasilitas, saya rasa itu wajar. Soalnya pemain bintang punya manajemen sendiri untuk hal-hal semacam ini," ucap Arif Putra Wicaksono.

"Kita bisa lihat saat Piala Dunia 2022 lalu di mana Messi sengaja berlatih di area yang sulit dijangkau fotografer. Ini kan untuk melindungi hak eksklusif terkait citra dia," ucap Arif Putra Wicaksono.

Hujan deras tak halangi jamaah laksanakan Arbain di Masjid Nabawi

Salah satu pintu Masjid Nawabi penuh sesak oleh jamaah meski di hujan deras, Kamis (25/5/2023). ANTARA/Nur Istibsaroh

Madinah diguyur hujan deras disertai petir dan angin kencang sekitar pukul 17.55 Waktu Arab Saudi atau bertepatan dengan masuknya waktu shalat magrib.

Kondisi tersebut tidak menghalangi antusiasme jamaah berbondong-bondong datang ke Masjid termasuk calon haji dari Indonesia untuk melaksanakan ibadah Arbain.

Seperti yang dilakukan pasangan suami istri lanjut usia (lansia) Wartono dan Ismoyowati, calon haji dari Kabupaten Demak, Jawa Tengah yang shalat Magrib dan Isya di Masjid Nabawi meskipun istrinya menggunakan kursi roda.

Hal sama juga dilakukan Zainuddin dan Surinah, jamaah haji kloter l asal Kabupaten Lingga Kepri memutuskan untuk tetap melaksanakan ibadah Arbain meski turun hujan.

"Saya sudah melaksanakan ibadah Arbain sejak Subuh kemarin. Sudah target sampai selesai, dapat 40 waktu," ujar Zainuddin, hari Kamis, 25/05/2023.

Jamaah calon haji kloter pertama yang tiba di Bandara Amir Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz (AMAA) Madina pada Rabu 24 Mei 2023 ini baru bisa melaksanakan ibadah haji pada tahun ini karena pada 2020 terhalang pandemi. Begitu juga pada 2022, Zainuddin tidak bisa berangkat haji karena istrinya harus menjalani operasi.

"Alhamdulillah tahun ini bisa berangkat haji," katanya.

Hal yang sama juga disampaikan Sita (46) jamaah haji kloter l ini mengaku tetap melaksanakan ibadah Arbain meski turun hujan.

"Mumpung masih di sini, jangan melewatkan Arbain," katanya.

Selain Masjid Nabawi, hujan juga mengguyur Bandara Internasional Pangeran Amir Mohammad Bin Abdul Aziz (AMAA) Madinah. Ini merupakan kali kedua hujan mengguyur kawasan tersebut.

Hujan deras disertai angin kencang tersebut terjadi sekitar pukul 17.15 WAS. Landasan dan pesawat yang biasanya terlihat juga tertutup tingginya curah hujan. Tidak hanya itu, angin kencang juga menerbangkan benda benda seperti plastik yang ada di area bandara

Sebelumnya, hujan disertai angin kencang juga melanda bandara tersebut pada pukul 19.30 WAS ketika jamaah haji asal embarkasi Jakarta Bekasi (JKS) dan jamaah dari Pakistan baru keluar dari ruang pemeriksaan Imigrasi. Jamaah calon haji Indonesia yang baru di bandara langsung mengucap syukur.

Embarkasi Balikpapan pantau kesehatan calon jamaah haji secara berkala

Panitia Pelaksana Ibadah Haji Kalimantan Timur melakukan pemeriksaan kesehatan terhadap para calon jamaah haji secara berkala dan intensif pada hari Jumat, 26 Mei 2023 05:27 WIB.

Petugas kesehatan yang disiagakan di Embarkasi Haji Balikpapan memantau kondisi kesehatan para calon jamaah haji melalui Kartu Kesehatan yang dimiliki oleh masing-masing jamaah.

Embarkasi Solo pulangkan satu calon haji asal Demak karena sakit

Panitia Penyelenggara Ibadah Haji (PPIH) Embarkasi Solo telah memulangkan satu calon haji asal Kabupaten Demak, Jawa Tengah, yang tergabung dengan kloter 7, sehingga tertunda keberangkatan ke Tanah Suci.

"Berdasarkan surat dari PPIH Embarkasi Solo yang ditujukan kepada Kepala Kemenag Kabupaten Demak, yakni satu orang tertunda berangkat atas nama Rumisih Salidin Kanafi (76), jenis kelamin perempuan tergabung kloter 7 karena sakit," kata Humas PPIH Embarkasi Solo Gentur Rama Indriyadi, di Asrama Haji Donohudan Boyolali, Jumat.

Gentur menyampaikan berdasarkan analisa dari tim kesehatan Embarkasi Solo yang bersangkutan dinyatakan menderita demensia berat, sehingga tidak layak untuk terbang ke Tanah Suci.

PPIH Embarkasi Solo langkah selanjutnya calon haji tersebut dikembalikan ke daerahnya. Jika bisa disembuhkan pada saat penyelenggaraan ibadah haji tahun ini, bisa diberangkatkan dengan kloter selanjutnya atau musim haji tahun berikutnya atau tergantung kondisi kesehatan yang bersangkutan.

"Jadi ini, hasil dari analisa observasi dari tim kesehatan. Kalau bahasanya kesehatan yakni ada standarnya," katanya.

Kendati demikian, Gentur mengimbau jamaah calon haji untuk mematuhi arahan dari petugas daerah masing-masing, tetap menjaga kesehatan, semangat, tenang hatinya serta terus berdoa agar dimudahkan semua tujuan niat hajinya hingga pulang ke Tanah Air.

"Kondisi cuaca di Arab Saudi cukup ekstrem panas. Sehingga, daya tahan tubuh perlu ditingkatkan untuk membawa vitamin sesuai anjuran dan menjaga pola makan, serta banyak minum air putih." katanya.

Embarkasi Solo hingga Jumat ini, telah menerima calon haji asal Jateng sebanyak 10 kloter dengan jumlah 3.577 calon haji dan sudah menerbangkan ke Tanah Suci sebanyak 8 kloter dengan jumlah 2.757 calon haji.

Dia mengatakan di Embarkasi Solo hingga Jumat ini, masih ada dua calon haji asal Demak yang dirujuk ke RSU Dr Moewardi Solo, sedangkan satu lainnya dirawat di Klinik Asrama Haji Donohudan menjalani observasi. Jika sudah dinyatakan sembuh dan layak terbang calon haji sakit dapat diberangkatkan dengan kloter selanjutnya.

Pembawa Kabur Uang 'Study Tour' Siswa SMAN 21 Bandung, Ditangkap dan Terancam Dipenjara

Polisi tangkap oknum pegawai jasa travel yang bawa kabur uang studi tour ratusan siswa SMAN 21 Bandung. Adapun pelaku diketahui seorang freelancer tour leader berinisial ICL (33).(KOMPAS.COM/AGIE PERMADI)

Study tour siswa kelas XI SMAN 21 Bandung, Jawa Barat, yang sedianya digelar pada hari Rabu, 24/05/2023, hingga hari Jumat, 26/05/2023, gagal digelar. Karena Uang study tour sebesar Rp. 400-an juta dibawa kabur oleh freelancer tour leader di PT Grand Traveling Indonesia (GTI).

Sosok tersebut berinisial ICL (33). Ia kini telah ditangkap polisi. Atas perbuatannya, ICL terancam hukuman penjara.

Kepala Kepolisian Resor Kota Besar (Kapolrestabes) Bandung Kombes Budi Sartono mengatakan, pelaku terancam dijerat Pasal 372 dan 378 Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Pidana (KUHP) tentang penggelapan dan penipuan.

Tersangka berinisial ICL diamankan karena kasus penipuan uang wisata di Polrestabes Bandung, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat, Kamis (25/5/2023). (ANTARA/Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi)

"Yang pasti pasalnya 372 dan 378, penggelapan sudah pasti, apakah nanti keterkaitan dengan yang lain, nanti setelah pemeriksaan," ujarnya di Markas Polrestabes Bandung, pada hari Kamis, 25/05/2023, dikutip dari Tribun Jabar.

Budi menuturkan, polisi tengah memeriksa motif ICL melakukan perbuatan tersebut. Di samping itu, polisi juga sedang menelusuri diarahkan ke mana uang yang diduga digelapkan.

"Hari ini kita laksanakan pemeriksaan mendalam dulu di Polrestabes. Kita telusuri uangnya ke mana saja, motifnya apa, sehingga yang bersangkutan menggelapkan uang tersebut," pungkasnya.

"Kita telusuri uangnya ke mana saja, motifnya apa sehingga yang bersangkutan menggelapkan uang tersebut," ucapnya.

Berdasar pemeriksaan sementara, pelaku diduga menggelapkan uang ratusan juta rupiah itu untuk kepentingan pribadi.

Sebelumnya diberitakan, ratusan siswa kelas XI SMAN 21 Bandung gagal berangkat study tour. Hari Rabu pagi, 24/05/2023, mereka melakukan unjuk rasa, sebabnya sore itu para siswa gagal berangkat study tour ke Yogyakarta.

Adapun ratusan siswa yang batal berangkat berjumlah 320 orang dan telah membayar iuran Rp 1,3 juta. Sehingga jika diakumulasikan total kerugiannya mencapai Rp 419 juta.

Ketua Organisasi Siswa Intra Sekolah (OSIS) SMAN 21 Bandung Fazha Raditya Gibran menjelaskan, bagi siswa yang ingin mengikuti study tour dikenakan biaya Rp 1,3 juta.

Dari ratusan siswa, terkumpul uang lebih dari Rp 419 juta.

"Karya wisatanya sudah diagendakan sejak dua bulan sebelumnya ke Yogyakarta," ungkapnya, Rabu.

Sementara pihak sekolah memastikan study tour akan tetap dilaksanakan. Namun waktu pelaksanaannya diundur. Study tour akhirnya bisa dilaksanakan karena mendapat sokongan bantuan dari pihak alumni.

"Alhamdulillah kita sudah punya solusi setelah Penilaian Akhir Tahun (PAT), anak-anak akan diberangkatkan study tour ke Yogyakarta pada 14,15,16 Juni 2023," kata Lilis ditemui detikJabar, pada hari Rabu, 24/05/2023.

Ia memastikan bahwa para siswa tak perlu khawatir, sebab mereka tidak diharuskan untuk membayar lagi biaya study tour. Lilis mengatakan, aksi unjuk rasa tersebut memang tidak dilarang pihak sekolah sebagai penyampaian suara mereka.

"Insya Allah aman, mereka nggak perlu bayar lagi. Ini yang mengurus dari Alumni SMAN 21 alhamdulillah mereka sangat peduli, mungkin ada yang punya travel atau gimana yang jelas mereka akan berangkat 14-16 Juni," ujarnya.

Kronologis

Siswa kelas XI SMAN 21 Bandung meradang lantaran agenda study tour yang rencananya ke Yogyakarta tak sesuai jadwal. Duit study tour yang disetor siswa itu rupanya raib digondol oknum pegawai travel.

Pihak sekolah merasa ditipu oleh oknum pegawai travel. Kepala SMAN 21 Bandung Dani Wardani mengatakan pihak sekolah sejatinya telah bekerja sama dengan travel berinisial GTI selama enam tahun. Dani pun heran ketika ada polemik tersebut.

"Kurang lebih enam tahun ke belakang. Jadi, kita berangkat atau karya wisata anak atau guru selalu gunakan travel ini alhamdulilah berjalan dengan baik. Februari kita sudah berangkatkan siswa kelas XII itu menggunakan travel sama, dan tidak terjadi apa-apa. Berjalan dengan lancar dan alhamdulilah peserta dan anak anak merasa puas," kata Dani saat ditemui detikJabar di ruangannya, Kamis (25/5/2023).

"Kita pada hari Selasa setelah dapat kabar uang itu dibawa lari oleh tour leader (oknum pegawai travel), pada jam 12 malam kita lapor ke Polsek Bubat (Buahbatu). Dan, alhamdulilah atas kerja keras dan cepat kepolisian, tadi malam jam dua dini hari, pelaku sudah tertangkap," kata Dani.

Dani mengaku sudah mendapat laporan dari kepolisian soal penangkapan oknum pegawai travel tersebut. "Karena pelaku seorang wanita, jadi tahanan nggak boleh ada di polsek. Jadi pelaku ditahan di polrestabes (Polrestabes Bandung)," kata Dani.

Rencananya, pihak sekolah memberangkatkan 320 siswa kelas XI untuk study tour ke Yogyakarta pada 24 hingga 26 Mei 2023, namun gagal karena uang study tour digondol oknum pegawai travel yang berstatus sebagai tour leader. Sekolah awalnya menyetor uang muka ke rekening perusahaan travel. Namun, lanjut Dani, setelah itu proses pembayaran langsung ditransfer ke oknum tersebut

"Jadi tertipu bukan travelnya, tapi salah satu oknum dari tour leader dan yang bawa kabur (duit study tour) dari kita, yang sudah disetorkan," kata Dani.

Dani mengaku mendapat kabar soal raibnya duit study tour itu saat H-1 sebelum pemberangkatan study tour. Ia juga memaklumi amarah siswa. Pihak sekolah dan alumni akhirnya bersepakat untuk mengubah jadwal study tour. Rencananya study tour dilakukan pada 14 hingga 17 Juni 2023. Segala urusan akomodasi dan logistik diatur alumni.

"Karena jadi heboh itu. Ada hikmahnya, karena menjadi perhatian dari alumni. Dan mereka merasa tergerak, kegiatan di Jogja tetap dilaksanakan dan langsung dikelola alumni," kata Dani.

"Siswa tidak dibebankan biaya lagi. Artinya tidak ada beban sepeserpun yang dibayar, jadi almuni yang merasa ada kaitan batin jadi dikelola alumni, dan saat ini kita dengan alumni sedang direncanakan," ucap Dani menambahkan.

Sebelumnya, ratusan siswa kelas XI Sekolah Menengah Atas Negeri (SMAN) 21 Bandung marah besar. Mereka melakukan aksi unjuk rasa, Rabu (24/5/2023), buntut gagal berangkat study tour ke Yogyakarta.

Nampak sisa spanduk kekecewaan dari para siswa bertuliskan 'Proud of You 21' dan 'Rest in Peace 21' terpajang di gerbang depan sekolah. D, salah seorang siswa kelas XI SMAN 21 Bandung, menjelaskan kronologinya. Pada hari Selasa (23/5/2023) malam sekitar jam 19.00 WIB, pengumuman pembatalan study tour dikirim melalui grup perpesanan.

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