NGOs file suit against evictions

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