LBH takes number of complaints during the year

LBH takes number of complaints during the year

JAKARTA (JP): As many as 20,357 people, mostly from Greater
Jakarta, visited the capital's Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta)
to seek legal advice from December of last year to November, its
executive said.

Out of that number, 14 women complained that men had refused
to marry them after taking their virginity, the institute's
director, Apong Herlina, said at a year-end press conference on
Tuesday.

"In court, we always lost these cases because there is no law
which holds men accountable in these cases," the head of the
institute's civil rights and political division, Daniel
Pandjaitan, explained.

The institute, he said, suggested that the government review
related laws and add an article which could force males to meet
their promises after deflowering their partners.

According to Apong, approximately one-third of the 1,513 cases
lodged at the institute's office on Jl. Diponegoro in Central
Jakarta were over labor disputes.

"Labor disputes, mostly over massive dismissals, will still be
one of the most complicated problems next year if the government
fails to create more job opportunities," she said.

According to Apong, the institute's labor division dealt with
10,868 workers who were dismissed by their employers due to the
prolonged economic crisis.

Meanwhile, the head of the labor division, Surya Tjandra, said
the workers tended to distrust official settlements, including
those arranged by the Ministry of Manpower or the courts.

"The workers preferred to stage demonstrations rather than
asking the government for help. Many cases were settled after the
workers staged rallies," Surya said.

He said rallies had already helped thousands of workers,
including the ground staff of private airline Sempati Air,
employees of Wall-Mart superstore and staff at private Bank Umum
Nasional.

He said that most of the labor cases reported to the institute
during the last year dealt with contract violations, suspensions,
pensions, minimum wage violations, the freedom to join worker
unions and the Jamsostek scheme.

"We regretted that military and police officers were still
involved in many labor disputes, backing up employers in facing
the protesting workers."

"Worse still, some employers hired hoodlums to intimidate
workers," Surya said.

The institute, which is home to a number of lawyers, also
represented government critics and students who were put on
trial.

Other cases reported to the institute included complaints
about deceitful developers from people who had just purchased
houses; a dispute between 80 disabled workers of Swa Prasidya
Purna workshop and the workshop's operator, former president
Soeharto's stepbrother Probosutedjo; and the controversy between
becak (pedicab) drivers and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.

Looking ahead to next year, the head of the institute's land
and environmental division, Waskito Adiribowo, said "the city
will also witness more land conflicts next year, not only between
land owners and the government, but also between people who claim
ownership of the land."

Adiribowo added that there will be more "horizontal conflicts"
over land.

Apong concluded: "Although it's difficult to say, we believe
that 1998 was a horrible year." (jun)