Komnas HAM demanded to investigate eviction cases
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) urged the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to set up a team to investigate serious human rights abuses allegedly committed against the urban poor by the city administration.
The Komnas Perempuan chairwoman Saparinah Sadli told a press conference on Friday that forced evictions by the city administration of poor people from their homes and the outlawing of their sources of livelihood could be categorized as serious human rights abuses.
"There are strong indications that the city administration under the leadership of Governor Sutiyoso has committed crimes against humanity, particularly against poor residents working in the informal sector and those living in slum areas," she said.
Saparinah, who read the Komnas Perempuan statement, said the fact that the forced evictions were being conducted based on a systematic plan was sufficient indication that the city administration had resorted to violent means in dealing with the poor.
"Such abuses are systematically implemented. This is clearly designed with a certain target in view and with clear financial support," she said.
According to Saparinah, the Komnas HAM Inquiry Committee (KPP HAM) should at least investigate forced evictions by the city public order agency since early 2001.
Komnas Perempuan's secretary-general Kamala Chandrakirana, denied a statement made by Komnas HAM's secretary-general Asmara Nababan saying that there was no strong legal basis for taking the city administration to court over the alleged human rights violations.
Asmara claimed that the forced evictions were covered by United Nations Commission on Human Rights Resolution Number 77, which was issued in 1993.
"It is clearly stated in our law that forced evictions constitute crimes against human beings," Kamala said quoting Article 9 (d) of Law Number 26 on human rights tribunals, which was enacted in 2000.
According to Kamala, the city administration under Sutiyoso had no intention of ending the forced evictions as it had rejected a call for a 100-day moratorium proposed by Komnas Perempuan.
Saparinah said that the North Jakarta administration had clearly rejected the moratorium proposal and had stated that the forced evictions were part of official policy.
Saparinah said that Komnas HAM should conduct an investigation as the conventional courts were unable to resolve the problem.
Komnas Perempuan also urged the City Council to revise Bylaw No. 11 of 1988 on public order, which had been used by the city administration to conduct the forced evictions.
Forced evictions and property seizures involving poor people From January to October 2001:
* 45 cases of forced evictions, including the destruction and burning of property. Victims: 38,514 people. Losses: 6,588 homes, and six schools.
* Seizure of becak (pedicabs). Victims: 6,000 pedicab drivers. Losses: 3,000 pedicabs worth Rp 500,000 each.
* 54 cases of forced eviction against street vendors. Victims: 2,700 street vendors. Losses: Rp 540 million.