'I can't help combing my hair'

Hendardi has earned a reputation at the forefront of legal aid and human rights advocacy. A student activist during his days at the prestigious Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), he is now chairman of the Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI). Married to fellow activist Melli and the father of a son, the man who just celebrated his 43th birthday on Oct. 13 told The Jakarta Post's Emmy F. Hastuti about what he values most.

What characteristic do you most like about yourself?

I think it's my consistency in doing whatever I have decided upon. But I don't know if people around me also see that point as a good trait because they may, at a glance, regard it as being stubborn.

And dislike?

I'm shy.

Whom do you admire?

Most probably my father. It is a little bit contradictory because my father always wanted me to be like him. He was an architect; he pushed me to study engineering just like him. At that time it was, I thought, a promising career and so I entered ITB. When I left my studies there and decided to go into the legal field, he was really upset. But amazingly he never showed those feelings to me. His latent anger and disappointment has, somewhat, spurred me to prove that I can do my best in this field.

What clothes do you like to wear?

Casual definitely. Now every day I have to wear a suit and tie. When I still worked in the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), I only wore jeans and T-shirts.

Do you believe in God?

I think so. I have had many chances and opportunities to advance; it must be from Him. The difficulties and hardships I faced and the solutions that followed were definitely from Him. So He exists.

What was the last book you read?

Too many. But I remember that I must, really must, read Karni Illyas' Catatan Hukum II (Legal Records II) because weekly newsmagazine Tempo asked me to write a review of it.

What was the last movie you watched?

In the last two or three years, I never went to the movie theater to watch movies because I will fall asleep inside. My wife likes to watch serious films and analyze them. Why should I? Every day I have complicated matters to handle and I don't want to add burdens. I always tell my wife that she has been deceived by film directors.

What makes you angry?

It's a difficult question. I don't like inconsistent people. Today I heard somebody say A, then it later changes to B. We have seen this on our political stage. Many people are inconsistent with what they have stated. We have too many political clowns around us.

What makes you laugh?

I enjoy political humor in my community, rather than Srimulat or other comedy groups. It is typical, I think, if we have a certain community and I believe that you can also laugh with your fellow journalists' jokes about anything, political or just trivial matters.

And cry?

The last time I cried was four years ago when my father passed away.

What three things would you take with you to a desert island?

Cigarettes, a comb because I can't help combing my hair and spare clothes. I am fat now so I cannot avoid sweating and wearing the same clothes for the whole day.

What would make you ashamed?

If I had to change my principles, especially matters that are already known, just because of my personal interest in either money, power or popularity. I don't want to feel ashamed and therefore I don't want to sell myself for my own personal interests.

What makes your life worth living?

My family and my career.

Which famous person, dead or alive, do you admire?

Nelson Mandela as he was able to bring enlightenment to South Africans. He brought his country out of such a depressing situation to reconcile with the past. I also admire human rights activist Yap Thiam Hien. He was very firm and consistent. I happened to know him as a person.

What is your favorite food?

I used to love goat satay. I could eat it every day but now I've had to stop due to my high cholesterol.

What would you do to hold onto power if you ruled?

My answer is a cliche, I guess. I will surely use my power to capture other people's aspirations and again use the power I have to create what the people want.

What makes a good friend?

I have a lot of friends but it's been a process of natural selection. Those who stayed around me during my hard times are true friends. I know some who turned away from me, when we were still under president Soeharto's administration. For me political beliefs should not affect our personal relationships. I take opposing sides with my senior (top lawyer) Adnan Buyung Nasution, but our personal relationship is fine.