Bambang elected chief of Legal Aid foundation
Bambang elected chief of Legal Aid foundation
JAKARTA (JP): Bambang Widjojanto, a lawyer experienced in
handling tough political cases, yesterday won the election for
the coveted post of chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid
Foundation (YLBHI).
Bambang, 36, won a contest that has been marred by controversy
amidst charges of undemocratic practices by the foundation's own
staff and leading supporters. He beat other candidates that are
more senior and no less experienced.
His appointment is by no means certain with six fellow
candidates and eight Legal Aid Institutes in the regions, which
are under the foundation, insisting that a new more democratic
election be conducted.
The post of chairman has been vacant since last October
following the resignation of Adnan Buyung Nasution.
Sixteen of the 19 members of YLBHI's Board of Trustees cast
their secret ballots in the chairmanship election last Friday.
The three others were unable to vote for personal reasons.
The ballot box was opened yesterday at the office of public
notary Maria K. Suharyo.
Bambang, currently director of operations on the YLBHI
executive board, received seven votes. Second was Soekardjo
Adidjojo with five votes and one vote each was cast for Amartiwi
Saleh and Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan. Two votes were spoilt.
Compared to the other candidates, Bambang was a virtual
newcomer to YLBHI, having served in the foundation's Jakarta
office for only three years.
But the 1984 graduate of the Jayabaya University School of Law
has spent seven years in Irian Jaya at the foundation's office in
Jayapura where he handled controversial political and land cases.
For his dedication in the fight for improved human rights for the
Irianese, he was awarded the prestigious Robert Kennedy Human
Rights Award in 1993.
That same year, he moved to Jakarta to join the executive
board, first to head the Civil and Political Rights and Land
Affairs Division and later as director of operations.
Although he has rarely captured media attention, Bambang has
been behind some of the toughest political cases that YLBHI has
taken on in recent years, all against the government.
He is one of the lawyers along with Buyung, Amartiwi and
Soekardjo, representing the Tempo newsweekly, which is fighting
the government's 1994 decision to close down their magazine. They
have won favorable judgments for their client, but the case has
now gone to the Supreme Court.
Bambang is also one of the foundation's lawyers defending Sri
Bintang Pamungkas in a number of legal battles the controversial
politician is waging against the government in the Jakarta State
Administrative Court and the Central Jakarta District Court.
Bambang was also involved in defending residents of Kedung
Ombo in Central Java and Jenggawah in East Java fighting to keep
their land against government moves to procure it.
Harjono Tjitrosoebono, the chairman of the board of trustees,
said after the count that Bambang has three days to form a new
executive board.
Realizing that he still does not command the support of the
whole of YLBHI, Bambang said his first priority in the coming
days is to woo the dissidents.
Provincial legal aid offices in Jakarta, Bandar Lampung,
Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Denpasar, Manado and Ujung
Pandang, are protesting against the election as are six
candidates: Mulyana W. Kusumah, Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan, Amartiwi
Saleh, H.J.C. Princen, Hendardi and Rambun Tjayo.
"It's nothing personal against Bambang. But we are protesting
against the election procedures," Luhut said.
Bambang however has the support of Frans Hendra Winarta,
currently the foundation's secretary-general, who said that
despite his limited experience on the executive board, Bambang
meets the criteria determined in the foundation's statutes.
Frans said a chairman must show good behavior, excellent legal
knowledge, strong commitment to human rights and democracy, as
well as being honest.
Frans called on his colleagues in the foundation to work
towards reconciliation. (imn)