Komnas HAM demanded to investigate eviction cases<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas
\nPerempuan) urged the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
\nHAM) to set up a team to investigate serious human rights abuses
\nallegedly committed against the urban poor by the city
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
The Komnas Perempuan chairwoman Saparinah Sadli told a press
\nconference on Friday that forced evictions by the city
\nadministration of poor people from their homes and the outlawing
\nof their sources of livelihood could be categorized as serious
\nhuman rights abuses.<\/p>\n
"There are strong indications that the city administration
\nunder the leadership of Governor Sutiyoso has committed crimes
\nagainst humanity, particularly against poor residents working in
\nthe informal sector and those living in slum areas," she said.<\/p>\n
Saparinah, who read the Komnas Perempuan statement, said the
\nfact that the forced evictions were being conducted based on a
\nsystematic plan was sufficient indication that the city
\nadministration had resorted to violent means in dealing with the
\npoor.<\/p>\n
"Such abuses are systematically implemented. This is clearly
\ndesigned with a certain target in view and with clear financial
\nsupport," she said.<\/p>\n
According to Saparinah, the Komnas HAM Inquiry Committee (KPP
\nHAM) should at least investigate forced evictions by the city
\npublic order agency since early 2001.<\/p>\n
Komnas Perempuan's secretary-general Kamala Chandrakirana,
\ndenied a statement made by Komnas HAM's secretary-general Asmara
\nNababan saying that there was no strong legal basis for taking
\nthe city administration to court over the alleged human rights
\nviolations.<\/p>\n
Asmara claimed that the forced evictions were covered by
\nUnited Nations Commission on Human Rights Resolution Number 77,
\nwhich was issued in 1993.<\/p>\n
"It is clearly stated in our law that forced evictions
\nconstitute crimes against human beings," Kamala said quoting
\nArticle 9 (d) of Law Number 26 on human rights tribunals, which
\nwas enacted in 2000.<\/p>\n
According to Kamala, the city administration under Sutiyoso
\nhad no intention of ending the forced evictions as it had
\nrejected a call for a 100-day moratorium proposed by Komnas
\nPerempuan.<\/p>\n
Saparinah said that the North Jakarta administration had
\nclearly rejected the moratorium proposal and had stated that the
\nforced evictions were part of official policy.<\/p>\n
Saparinah said that Komnas HAM should conduct an investigation
\nas the conventional courts were unable to resolve the problem.<\/p>\n
Komnas Perempuan also urged the City Council to revise Bylaw
\nNo. 11 of 1988 on public order, which had been used by the city
\nadministration to conduct the forced evictions.<\/p>\n
Forced evictions and property seizures involving poor people
\nFrom January to October 2001:<\/p>\n
* 45 cases of forced evictions, including the destruction and
\nburning of property. Victims: 38,514 people. Losses: 6,588 homes,
\nand six schools.<\/p>\n
* Seizure of becak (pedicabs). Victims: 6,000 pedicab
\ndrivers. Losses: 3,000 pedicabs worth Rp 500,000 each.<\/p>\n
* 54 cases of forced eviction against street vendors. Victims:
\n2,700 street vendors. Losses: Rp 540 million.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/komnas-ham-demanded-to-investigate-eviction-cases-1447893297",
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