70 blind people protest at City Hall

JAKARTA (JP): A group of about 70 blind people went to City Hall yesterday to protest the cancellation of their cooperation with the city administration to manage a plot of land at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta in 1985.

Wearing "peaceful reform" headbands, the protesters, who arrived at City Hall in two buses, demanded that the administration return their investment of least Rp 500 million in the joint project.

As soon as they got out of the bus, they were met by several security officers. The protesters entered City Hall in groups, and held onto each other to ensure that they did not become separated.

The protesters said they wanted to meet Governor Sutiyoso. They waved banners which read, among others, "Return our rights" and "Be honest, you must return our money".

The delegation leader, Ony Sanomasi, said the administration had once promised to return the funds belonging to the Foundation of Handicraft Training for the Blind (Pekerti).

"Actually, we have asked the administration many times to return the money, but the officials frequently sent us from one office to another.

"They used to promise to involve us by allowing us to sell and display our handicrafts at the site, which has now been altered into a park. In reality, however, it only happened once," he said.

Some of the protesters, most of whom work as masseurs, were unaware of the purpose of the protest. "Ony just asked me to follow him to protest here," said Ato, one of the protesters.

Asked whether he would ask the governor for money for himself, Ato said, "That's a good idea. Who knows, maybe the governor will be generous."

Another female protester, named Aji, said, "Just to shake hands with the governor will also be OK."

As they failed to meet the governor, some of them played with a deck of Braille cards and waited to negotiate with Deputy Governor of Development Affairs Budiardjo Soekmadi.

Ony said that in 1985 the Pekerti foundation decided to cooperate with the administration to build a park of arts and handicrafts at the zoo.

The park was originally designed to be a place for displaying handicrafts and other arts.

After waiting for about two hours, the protesters were received by Budiardjo.

The city spokesman, Kamaludin Santos, told reporters that during the meeting the administration principally agreed to return their money.

"But the administration will hold a meeting first on Thursday to decide when the money will be returned," he said.

The chairman of Pekerti, Surojo, stated that he was satisfied with the administration's decision for the time being.

"We will wait for the realization of their promise," he said. (ind)