City to work with human rights body to monitor right abuses

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja vowed on Tuesday to continue improving public services in the capital, saying also that the National Commission on Human Rights will help monitor the impact of development to avoid human rights abuse.

"We're still working on it. But we have already conducted a meeting to compare our perspectives," Surjadi said, referring to a meeting between the commission and the administration on Monday.

In a related development, he also reaffirmed that the Jakarta administration will continue to step up its efforts to improve public services.

Earlier reports said that members of the commission, including Roekmini Koesoemo Astoeti and Djoko Soegianto, had met Surjadi at City Hall for talks on human rights abuse in Jakarta.

He said that the commission and the administration will apparently establish a regular forum to solve problems related to human rights.

Hundred of Jakartans have visited the commission to seek help following dozens of land disputes, labor strikes, violence cases and even political conflicts.

Minibus drivers, farmers, workers, journalists, reverends of a disputed Protestant church and even Buddhist monks have in the past gone to the commission for help.

"The subject and purpose of our development is human beings, aren't they? So development must be carried out along with the implementation of human rights. That's quite simple," Surjadi said

Referring to a nine-point strategic plan, which includes the improvement of public transportation and slum areas, Surjadi said the administration had already drawn out a plan to overcome poor public services.

Minister of Administrative Reform T.B. Silalahi said in a hearing with the House of Representative on Monday that sex scandals, corruption and poor public service are common factors these days.

Silalahi said that although the capital has won the Parasamya Purnakarya Nugraha, it does not necessarily mean that it has maintained good public services.

Parasamya is given to provinces for their outstanding achievement during the past Five Year Development (Pelita) period.

"We should not be complacent after winning the award. Our points were better than other provinces. That's all. It doesn't show that we have excellent public service," he said.(09)