Disabled rally in Bandung

Disabled rally in Bandung

BANDUNG, West Java: Hundreds of people from the Forum of
Struggle for the Disabled (Forpadi) marked National Awakening Day
with a rally here on Monday.

They marched through the city carrying banners and posters
demanding the public, the government and state institutions stop
discriminating against the disabled.

They accused government institutions and state universities of
not providing facilities for the disabled.

Forpadi chairman Jumono said the government and the private
sector failed to pay proper attention to the over 70,600 disabled
people in West Java, only one-third of whom received any form of
government assistance.

"Although the President, government, mayor, even the
legislators have changed, we still find it hard to find jobs,
educations and fair treatment from the public," he said.

A provincial legislative member, Kusmeni S. Hartadi, met with
the protesters and promised to seek a meeting with Bandung Mayor
Aa Tarmana to discuss their complaints. --JP