Chairmanship seat of YLBHI vacant

Chairmanship seat of YLBHI vacant

JAKARTA (JP): Noted lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution bid farewell
to the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation he has chaired for two
years, leaving members in conflict about a successor.

In a reception marking the prestigious organization's 25th
anniversary on Saturday, Buyung, who is well known as a human
rights campaigner, formally declared his resignation from the
foundation's executive board.

"I'm resigning to fulfill a promise," he told guests including
political figures and human rights activists, such as Ali
Sadikin, Mochtar Lubis, and A.M. Fatwa.

When he was appointed the chairman of the foundation in 1993,
Buyung said he would hold the post for only two years. The
statutes of the foundation state that a chairman's term is five
years.

Chairman of the board of trustees Harjono Tjitrosoebono said
the board, in its last meeting on Friday night, agreed to
establish a team of caretakers when Buyung left. Buyung was among
the 15 members of the board making that decision.

Soekardjo Adidjojo, a senior foundation lawyer, has been
elected to chair the caretaker team. He will be assisted by
H.J.C. Princen, as his deputy, Mas Achmad Santosa as secretary,
Amartiwi Saleh treasurer, and two members of the caretaker team,
Frans Hendra Winarta and Aswab Mahasin.

Several members of the foundation have criticized the
establishment of the caretaker team, which will function as a
collective chairman until January when the foundation holds its
national congress. That gathering is expected to elect a new
chairman.

Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan, a noted lawyer and director of the
Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, said the establishment of the team
of caretakers was "unconstitutional" because the foundation's
statutes make no provisions for the formation of such a group.

"This is proof of the executive board's failure to produce new
leaders," he said.

Rita Serena Kolibonso, who has drawn nationwide attention for
her involvement in some high-profile cases, such as the lawsuit
for the banned Tempo magazine against the government, also
questioned the decision of the board of trustees.

"They act as if there is nobody here capable enough to hold
the post," she said.

Buyung said he meant well by his resignation. "I'm doing this
because I want to provide a good model of leadership, of leaders
who are not hogging positions," he said.

Buyung added that his resignation would by no means end his
involvement with the body, as he will remain on the board of
trustees.

"I will still be with you, in the front line of the pro-
democracy movement," he said.

Established in Jakarta in 1970, the foundation started out as
a provider of legal aid services for the weak and the
downtrodden. It gradually developed into what has often been
described as a center for the democracy and human rights
campaign.

From only one office in the past, the foundation currently
supervises 12 branch offices nationwide and project bases in 13
provinces, employing a total of 160 lawyers. (imn)