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