Sincere empathy for the disabled?

Sincere empathy for the disabled?

From Warta Kota

The May 6 issue of Kompas featured an ad on page 16 titled
Their contribution to the world is so great, which presented
influential physically disabled people like Franklin D.
Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Taha Husen, Abdurrahman Wahid,
Beethoven and Stephen Hawking.

These distinguished people were brought to the public's notice
apparently as a reminder that physical limitations or
disabilities should not prevent anybody from pursuing high ideals
and accomplishing great things to change the world.

In the context of empathy for those who are physically
disabled but are still able to lead others, the Indonesian
Association for the Disabled (PPCI) wishes to express gratitude
for the ad.

However, we deeply regret that this publicity has appeared
only lately while the nation is dealing with the question of
whether a vision-impaired politician can run for president. Was
the ad sincerely expressing the interests of the disabled or was
it a mere trick meant as some kind of political ploy?

The PPCI has for a long time been struggling for the interests
of the disabled, but there has only ever been the smallest of
responses from the government, politicians and social
organizations. Now when just one person with impaired vision is
involved, everyone emerges with a hostile attitude.

We welcome any help from society but we are not pursuing any
political goals. Our struggle is based on the rights of the
handicapped. We only want equal opportunities in all areas of
life, as stipulated in Law No. 4/1997.

HEPY SEBAYANG
Chairman
Indonesian Institute of Advocacy and Protection for the Disabled
Jakarta