NGOs file suit against evictions

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) and the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) filed lawsuits on Thursday at the Jakarta administrative court against two municipal administrations on behalf of evicted residents.

The lawyers accused the West Jakarta and North Jakarta municipalities of violating Article 11 of Law No. 39/1999 on human rights and Article 3 of Law No. 51/1960 on prohibition of illegal land use.

Marthin Ismawan of LBH Jakarta argued that, by issuing eviction orders, the municipal administrations had violated the 1960 Law, which stipulates that only the governor has the authority to issue such an order.

"The two municipalities, moreover, have failed to guarantee the fulfillment of the citizens' basic rights ... in our case, proper shelters for the evicted residents," he added.

PBHI in its statement said the municipal administrations must revoke their eviction orders and call off any future eviction plans. -- JP