'King of scavengers' to get rights award
JAKARTA (JP): Father Sandyawan Sumardi, the Catholic priest and low-profile social worker who recently rose to fame after he was found harboring wanted youth activists, will receive the Yap Thiam Hien human rights award tonight.
The selection committee of the Center for Human Rights Studies chose him over other nominees for his strong commitment to humanity.
The father received special consideration because he risked his safety by protecting the Democratic People's Party (PRD) activists, accused of masterminding the July 27 riots, shortly after the military issued a shoot-on-the-spot order.
Born by the name of Kuncoro in Jeneponto, South Sulawesi, 38 years ago, Sandyawan is known for his tireless work with the poor and street children. Abdurrahman Wahid, the leader of the 30- million Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization, once called Sandyawan "King of scavengers".
The award presentation is timed to coincide with International Human Rights Day which falls on Dec. 10. The award, named after human rights activist and lawyer Yap Thiam Hien, was first issued in 1992.
Previous recipients include human rights activist H.J.C. Princen, Ade Rostina Sitompul, slain labor activist Marsinah, lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi and the Jenggawah village farmers in Jember regency who clashed with security personnel when defending their land from appropriation.
Sandyawan, a reticent man, once said that all he had done was motivated by his faith and commitment for the community.
"I have no other, especially political, motives," said the soft-spoken bird-lover who frequently strolls the Pramuka bird market in East Jakarta.
The youngest of eight children, the lanky priest spent his childhood in Bantul, Yogyakarta. He said he inherited his compassion for humankind from his mother.
Sandyawan decided early in life to be "a companion of Jesus" by entering the Mertoyudan Minor Seminary in Magelang, Central Java.
Kuncoro took the name of Ignatius Sandyawan Sumardi when he started pursuing a religious life on Dec. 31, 1977. He was ordained on July 21, 1988.
Sandyawan graduated from the Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta and furthered his study with the Society of Jesus in Manila in 1989.
In 1989, Sandyawan got actively involved with the Jakarta Social Institute, a non-governmental organization that helps the poor and homeless. He later became the institute's director.
Among Sandyawan's recent activities was the defense of textile factory workers who were fired with little severance pay.
Established in 1985, the Jakarta Social Institute was previously called the Pure Labor Consultant Bureau. The institute has helped at least 500 street children.
Sandyawan, who when relaxed has good humor, admitted harboring PRD leader Budiman Sudjatmiko and other activists. He said the youths had come to him for help because they feared the military would shoot them.
The youths were arrested on Aug. 11 at a house in Bekasi, West Java, owned by Sandyawan's brother, Benny Sumardi. They are now facing trial for subversion, a crime punishable by death.
It has been speculated that Sandyawan would also face charges. But he has only been questioned by the authorities.
In a reflection on Independence Day in August, two weeks before he was questioned for harboring wanted political activists, Sandyawan wrote:
"If such is the consequence of my transpired faith, which is to strive for a just and civilized humanity, may presently cast me into the pile of victims, I am ready and willing. I do feel weak but I will not acquiesce to serve fear because it breeds violence." (06/07)