Democracy YLBHI's top priority

Democracy YLBHI's top priority

JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute
(YLBHI) have agreed to stick to their present mission of fighting
for greater democracy in the country.

The foundation said that at the end of a three-day leadership
meeting on Tuesday members agreed on YLBHI's main mission for the
next four years, which includes the establishment of a democratic
government system, free and independent institutions, and better
organization synergy.

YLBHI said in a statement that it will fight for more
democratic mechanisms and more effective control by the people.
Democracy in the country is only possible through strong civilian
institutions and when the people are allowed to freely organize
politically, it added.

The meeting was attended by the executive board's 12 members,
four members from the caretaker board, nine members from the
advisory board and representatives from the 16 Legal Aid
Institutes throughout Indonesia.

The executive board is currently led by a presidium of four
people -- Soekardjo Adidjojo, Amartiwi Saleh, Mas Achmad Santosa
and Frans Hendra Winarta -- who are filling in a vacuum that was
created when Adnan Buyung Nasution tendered his resignation in
October.

It was Adnan who two years ago declared that YLBHI was a
"locomotive for democracy" that should take on more politically-
charged cases, including human rights issues.

According to the statement, the caretaker board will continue
with its task pending the results of an election for the
executive director position, which should be held by the end of
February. (emb)