Disabled people demand equality

YOGYAKARTA: Dozens of disabled people in Yogyakarta staged a protest on Monday to demand equal treatment and an end to discrimination by the authorities, and the enactment of special legislation to ensure their rights were protected.

The protesters met with several members of the local council, and complained about a lack of employment opportunities and public facilities for them.

"We don't ask for pity. We are just demanding fair and equal treatment. For how long will we continue to be treated like this?" said coordinator Nuning Setyaningsih, who is also the director of the Center for Improving Qualified Activity in the Lives of People with Disabilities (CIQAL).

She said that the main cause of discriminatory treatment against disabled people was the lack of legislation to protect their rights. -- JP