Disabled told to keep chin up

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno told physically disabled people yesterday not to feel inferior but accept their condition and live a normal life.

The Vice President said their physical shortcomings should not be an obstacle for them to work together with other people to develop the nation.

"With a strong independence, you are challenged to progress together with your physically normal brothers and sisters," Try said in his address commemorating International Disabled Day in Cibinong, West Java, yesterday.

He also called on the nation not to treat physically disabled people as a burden on society, or view them as mere targets for charity. He also pledged the government was committed to helping them.

"We adopted and enacted the Disability Law in 1997 as a strong legal foundation to realize our efforts to improve the welfare of disabled people," Try said.

The law strives to guarantee the rights of the country's six million disabled and give them equal access to education, employment and assistance.

The law stipulates that companies, communities and individuals will be awarded for employing physically disabled people who have capabilities and qualifications that meet all necessary requirements.

It also regulates equal employment opportunities for the disabled in private and state-owned companies in accordance with the type and degree of disability, education and capabilities matched with the employers' number of staff and qualifications.

Employers found to have intentionally violated the law are subject to six months of imprisonment or a fine of up to Rp 200 million (US$37,000).

"Our attention and appreciation of the disabled must be reflected by providing them with better treatment and opportunities in the development process," Try said.

President of Indonesia's Disabled People's Association (PPCI) Koesbiono Sarmanhadi earlier said that physically disabled people still face the daily agony of trying to live with dignity amid public misconceptions, an environment which is not supportive, and lack of access to public facilities.

"My organization will like to campaign for facilities such as ramps, elevators and a public toilet for the disabled in every public building," he said.

Try also inaugurated yesterday the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation for the physically disabled. The center's construction was funded by a grant from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. (prb)