Sandyawan receives Yap Thiam Hien award<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Ignatius Sandyawan Sumardi, a Jesuit Catholic
\npriest who made headlines for sheltering wanted activists charged
\nwith inciting the July 27 riots, received the Yap Thiam Hien
\nhuman rights award yesterday.<\/p>\n
Some 700 people, mostly activist students, packed the Atrium
\nHall at the World Trade Center on Jl. Sudirman to pay homage to
\nSandyawan, the fifth person to win the laurels since 1992.<\/p>\n
The 38-year-old priest runs the Jakarta Social Institute, a
\nnon-governmental organization actively helping street children,
\nlaborers, and poor people caught in land disputes. Yesterday he
\nimplied in his speech his defense of his decision to harbor
\nBudiman Sudjatmiko, leader of the now outlawed Democratic
\nPeople's Party (PRD), and his colleagues.<\/p>\n
"It is our moral responsibility to take sides with the weak,
\ndefending those who have fallen victim to injustice in our
\nsociety," he said. "A real pro-democratic movement, therefore,
\nmust be a realization of solidarity with the poor."<\/p>\n
But Sandyawan said the idea of empowering the poor was neither
\na carbon copy of Western charity programs nor an ideological
\nfollowing of capitalism or Marxism.<\/p>\n
Diplomats from Canada, Finland, France, Sweden, the United
\nStates and the Vatican, lawyers, intellectuals, public figures
\nand human rights activists were present yesterday.<\/p>\n
Sandyawan was also awarded Rp 3 million (US$1,300) in cash.
\nAround 150 of Sandyawan's foster children joined the award
\npresentation.<\/p>\n
The award, named after a late prominent Indonesian human
\nrights activist and lawyer, was first issued in 1992. Previous
\nrecipients include human rights activists H.J.C. Princen,
\nTrimoelja D. Soerjadi and Ade Rostina Sitompul, slain labor
\nactivist Marsinah, and farmers of the Jenggawah village in Jember
\nregency who were caught in a clash with security officers when
\ndefending their land from appropriation.<\/p>\n
This annual award presentation is organized by the Center for
\nHuman Rights Studies (Yapusham) in conjunction with International
\nHuman Rights Day which falls on Dec. 10.<\/p>\n
The center's executive director, human rights activist Todung
\nMulya Lubis, said the panel of judges had a tough time picking
\nSandyawan from the five well-deserving nominees. (08\/amd)<\/p>\n
Violations -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sandyawan-receives-yap-thiam-hien-award-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }