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