It is common in rural Indonesia to shackle and lock up people who suffer from mental illnesses, largely because of ignorance and poverty. Latest government figures say that at least 18,800 people are currently being shackled.
In May, ucanews.com visited Ende regency in Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in East Nusa Tenggara province where there were reports of a large number of people with mental illnesses.
Family members say relatives are shackled to prevent them from doing harm to themselves and also because families do not know how to care for them.
Divine Word Father Aventinus Saur, a priest in the area, has been caring for them and affected families, forming a group that helps such people.
