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)