48pt - 4\/2 (2x10)<\/p>\n
Evictions
\nan abuse of
\nhuman rights:
\nKomnas HAM<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
A string of evictions in the capital during the past two months
\nhas been classified as systematic abuses of human rights by the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).<\/p>\n
A member of Komnas HAM, Taheri Noor, told Governor Sutiyoso at
\nCity Hall on Wednesday that the city administration's method of
\nvacating land occupied by illegal squatters had been systematic.
\nMoreover, it was a criminal activity, based on Article 41 of Law
\nno. 26\/2000 on human rights.<\/p>\n
The article stipulates that any attempt, conspiracy or
\nassistance to commit a violation of human rights, either genocide
\nor crimes against humanity, carries a maximum sentence of 20
\nyears imprisonment.<\/p>\n
Taheri said that the evictions had made the lives of thousands
\nof people miserable.<\/p>\n
A man was killed during the evictions in Cengkarent, West
\nJakarta, last month, while a teenage girl was sexually abused
\nallegedly by men in blue uniforms.<\/p>\n
Komnas HAM has set up a special team chaired by its deputy
\nchairman Solahuddin Wahid to investigate the alleged human rights
\nabuses.<\/p>\n
During the meeting -- also attended by the National Commission
\non Child Protection (Komnas Anak), the mayors of North Jakarta,
\nWest Jakarta and East Jakarta and the city administration
\nofficials -- Sutiyoso did not respond to the findings of Komnas
\nHAM.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time the governor has been accused of
\nviolating human rights. In 1996 he was accused of human rights
\nabuses when the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) headquarters
\nwas attacked. The party was headed by Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who now heads the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), backed Sutiyoso during the
\ngubernatorial election last year.<\/p>\n
The head of the City Public Order Agency, Soebagio, has
\nstrongly denied that human rights abuses occurred during the
\nevictions.<\/p>\n
Soebagio, a retired marine colonel, said that the evictions
\nwere aimed at repossessing land belonging to the city or the
\nprivate sector.<\/p>\n
\"I am not aware of this case but, if the man was killed during
\nthe evictions, I will take responsibility\" he said.<\/p>\n
Komnas Anak chairman Seto Mulyadi urged the administration to
\nhalt the evictions, in line with the proposal by Komnas HAM,
\nKomnas Anak and the National Commission on Women Rights (Komnas
\nPerempuan) to have a 180-day moratorium.<\/p>\n
Scholar Franz Magnis-Suseno also proposed a six-month
\nmoratorium to give all parties concerned a chance to discuss the
\nevictions.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Komnas Anak has recorded that 335 children in
\nCengkareng and Tanjung Duren Selatan, West Jakarta need
\nassistance in order to continue their studies. Many were forced
\nto quit school after their parents lost their belongings during
\nthe evictions.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said that the city has allocated funds to help the
\nchildren continue their studies. The assistance will cover
\ntuition, uniforms and books.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/48pt-42-2x10-1447893297",
"image": ""
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