Activists and Victims of Jakarta Public Officials File Court Petition

Nurfika Osman Activists and Victims of Jakarta Public Officials File Court Petition Victims of violence at the hands of Jakarta's public order officials, with the support of several advocacy groups, are planning to file a petition with the Constitutional Court against a city bylaw on public order, a discussion heard on Wednesday. Edy Halomoan Gurning of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) said the decision was made after the Supreme Court rejected a similar petition against the bylaw, which gives public order officials the authority to deal firmly with residents violating the city's bylaws and regulations. Public order officials have been strongly criticized for their treatment of street vendors, illegal settlers, transvestites, street children and others caught violating city regulations. "The Supreme Court rejected our petition to review the public order bylaw, arguing that the legal status of the plaintiffs was dubious," said Edy, adding that the court also insisted that the plaintiffs did not represent the voice of the 10 million Jakarta residents. "They asked, 'Do these people represent Jakarta's 10 million residents?' " he said. "Public order officials have been treating the poor and minorities badly." Edy did not say when they would file the petition with the Constitutional Court. The discussion also heard from people who claimed they had suffered violence at the hands of Jakarta's public order officials. Mutiah, a resident of Rawa Buaya in West Jakarta, told the discussion that her house and those of 157 other families were demolished by public order officers last month. "We are now staying with neighbors who are willing to shelter us," she said. "There are other families who have to live on the street." Mutiah also called on Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo to fulfill his election promises to assist the city's poor residents. "We want Governor Fauzi Bowo to be responsible and fulfill his promises to help poor people have a better life," Mutiah said. "He said in his campaign that 'Jakarta is for all,' but we don't see that slogan being realized anywhere." Dede, a street musician, accused public order officers of deceit in their interactions with residents. "They give us food and pretend to be our friends, and then they arrest us," he said. Despite a growing public clamor for the city administration to shut down the Public Order Agency, Deputy Governor Prijanto insisted that it would remain open. "The job of public order officers differs from that of the police," Prijanto said. "They help the city administration implement its bylaws, while the police uphold the law." The deputy governor said public order officers helped the city administration do everything from clear the streets of vendors to implement the smoking ban. "Jakarta residents often refuse to comply with bylaws, that's why we need public order officers to deal with them," Prijanto said. In addition to the YLBHI, the court petition was signed by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), the Women's Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Apik), the Institute for Ecosoc Rights and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi). http://thejakartaglobe.com/city/activists-and-victims-of-jakarta-public-officials-file-court-petition/322424