YLBHI finds unique way of solving leadership crisis

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has come up with a unique way to end the chairmanship crisis plaguing its Yogyakarta chapter: Appoint an activist who received no votes in the election.

The decision was made during a tense meeting between the foundation's executive board chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution and Yogyakarta legal aid activists over the weekend.

The legal "crusaders" named Budi Santoso as the new chairman of the Yogyakarta chapter, replacing the outgoing boss Nur Ismanto.

The chairmanship crisis was triggered by Buyung's insistence on having Ari Suseta at the helm, despite having received only four votes against his contender A. Budi Hartono, who got six.

Buyung's policy was met with fierce protests. A group of Yogyakarta Legal Aid activists took their protest to the Jakarta headquarters last week, charging Buyung as "authoritarian."

"After listening to some consideration and input from members of the Yogyakarta chapter, YLBHI's executive board decided to reverse its previous decision," Buyung told journalists after meeting with 12 key activists.

Buyung made the compromise and repeated the election after he froze his controversial decision due to the waves of protests that also came from other non-governmental organizations.

But he maintained that he was "not wrong" when he insisted on Suseto as chairman because, as the central executive board chairman, he has the ultimate right to decide who chairs the foundation's chapters.

"The executive board has the full authority to do that," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Buyung, who was apparently irritated by the various protests against him, advised NGOs activists to criticize and demonstrate in a "civilized" way.

"It's important that you use polite words in protests and demonstrations to show the public we NGO activists are civilized people," he said at the press conference.

During the course of demonstrations that followed his controversial selection of Suseto, protesters attacked not only the YLBHI but also him and Suseto personally.

Meanwhile Budi Hartono, who obtained the most votes in the previous election, said that he had no hard feelings and would support Budi.

"Budi Santosa has not only the potential to lead the Yogyakarta legal aid institute but also has the support from other organizations," he said.

Suseta, who "lost" his chair, also expressed his full support of Budi.

Budi, 31, is a graduate from the Islamic University of Yogyakarta. He joined the legal aid foundation in 1991 as a volunteer. (imn)