Legal Aid Foundation urged to be democratic<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers want the Indonesian Legal Aid
\nFoundation, known as the center for the campaign for democracy
\nand human rights here, to elect its new chairman democratically.<\/p>\n
Henda S. Atmadja, a member of a non-governmental organization,
\nand a number of colleagues visited the foundation office
\nyesterday to announce they were establishing a committee to
\ndemocratize the election.<\/p>\n
Their committee is concerned about the chairmanship crises
\nwhich beset the foundation last October when noted lawyer Adnan
\nBuyung Nasution resigned as chairman of the foundation's
\nexecutive board. The seat has been left vacant and members cannot
\nagree on a successor.<\/p>\n
A team of caretakers had reportedly been established, manned
\nby senior foundation lawyer Soekardjo Adidjojo, H.J.C. Princen,
\nMas Achmad Santosa, Amartiwi Saleh, Frans Hendra Winarta and
\nAswab Mahasin. The team will supposedly function as a collective
\nchairman until the new chairman is elected.<\/p>\n
Several foundation members, however, have criticized the
\ncaretaker team as unconstitutional because the foundation's
\nstatutes make no provisions for the formation of such a group.<\/p>\n
The conflict has escalated to the point where there is now two
\nelectoral committees, Henda said.<\/p>\n
\"Political elites in the foundation should not get involved in
\npolitical intrigues,\" Henda said.<\/p>\n
In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post, Henda
\naccused the foundation of abandoning its original mission, which
\nis to campaign for democracy in the country.<\/p>\n
He cited as proof of the foundation's undemocratic development
\nthe fact that the foundation failed to invite \"its partners\",
\nnamely the local NGOs, to participate in the election process.<\/p>\n
Established in Jakarta in 1970, the foundation started out
\nproviding legal aid to the less fortunate. It gradually developed
\ninto what is often described as the center for the campaign for
\ndemocracy and human rights in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The foundation currently supervises 12 branch offices
\nnationwide and project bases in 14 provinces. It employs 160
\nlawyers.<\/p>\n
Senior foundation member Luhut Pangaribuan supported Henda's
\ncampaign. \"It's a positive call,\" he told the Post. (16)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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