City Hall's plan on rights issue queried

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta administration has failed to protect and promote people's legal and human rights, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) has concluded in its year-end evaluation of the administration's performance.

LBH chairman Irianto Subiakto said on Friday that the administration of Governor Sutiyoso had ignored human rights as street vendors were forced to move their businesses as stipulated in City Bylaw No. 11/1988 on city order.

"Ironically, cafes belonging to the middle and upper class, which are mushrooming all over the city, have not been affected by the bylaw. The administration has not paid any heed to providing a special site for the poor to do business," he told a media conference.

Irianto said the administration had destroyed poor people's settlements, but did not provide a suitable replacement for them, while construction of luxury housing, with its high risk to the environment and violation of city planning, continued.

The institution said the government had failed to protect the environment, adding that as the city sustained parks and controlled the usage of ground water, the administration also allowed reclamation of land which ruined mangrove forests and caused floods.

The institution had given in June its critical assessment on the accountability report of Sutiyoso in order to raise public awareness on the performance of the government.

During the year, LBH handled 1,026 cases, a slight decrease from 1,052 cases last year. Most cases were on labor issues. (bby)