Rights abuses reports jump

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Legal Aid Office here announced on Wednesday that complaints it has received regarding rights abuses jumped by slightly more than 100 percent from last year, from 143 to 299 cases.

Office spokesman Budi Santoso said the rights violations reported were mostly perpetrated by the security apparatus.

"The rough handling of student demonstrators has increased the number of these complaints," he told the press.

Overall, the complaints received increased by 50 percent from last year included those concerning land disputes, and money scams involving organizers of various short courses here, he said.

Regarding the latter type, Budi said his office has handled 189 land dispute cases, about a 70 percent increase from last year, and 189 cases of alleged embezzlement.

"From June on the land cases handled by us increased. This proves that the New Order was the cause of many land disputes, he said. (44)