Your open letter is posted on our site:
http://story.indahnesia.com/item/20070806/
On 8/6/07, Institute Ecosoc Rights <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Open Letter to the Rector and Students Senate of the Diponegoro
> University in Semarang
>
> Pressure to cancel the Honoris Causa award for Jakarta governor
> Sutiyoso
>
> Dear Madame/Sir:
>
> As most people in Indonesia already know, the University of
> Diponegoro in Semarang of C. Java will soon award to the Jakarta
> governor Sutiyoso the Doctorate of Honoris Causa. The award is based
> on the argument that Mr. Sutiyoso is considered to have succeeded in
> developing the Jakarta city as a megapolitan that maintains rooms for
> small and medium businesses (UKM). The relocation of those real
> sectors that Mr. Sutiyoso has conducted has also been regarded as
> giving strong influence for the increase of small and medium
> businesses and the economic condition of the city in general.
>
> We regret and we state our deep concerns, however, to the university
> with this award. We are of the opinion that the university does not
> base the award delivery on a comprehensive deliberation and not on
> acurate data from the ground. We reject the university's decision
> because a decision that bases on misleading data will deceive the
> public and taint the academic reputation that should have been freed
> from political and business interests.
>
> The following are arguments that we do concern with and the
> implication of which we prop our pressure to cancel the false award.
>
> First, the argument that mentions that (1) Mr. Sutiyoso has
> successfully developed Jakarta as a `megapolitan' city (2) while
> maintaining rooms for small and medium businesses is not based on
> real facts from the ground and therefore it has no strong foundation.
> It is true that Mr. Sutiyoso is the first governor who publicly
> states the `megapolitan' city concept for Jakarta, Bogor, Depok,
> Tangerang, Bekasi and Cianjur in his attempt to support the draft of
> law on the Indonesian capital. However, this concept remains only as
> an idea that has not been agreed or negotiated by related parties. In
> the law on the Indonesian capital that has been passed, the clause
> on `megapolitan' city concept is not mentioned. If such concept has
> not been approved, how could the university assesses that Mr.
> Sutiyoso has successfully developed Jakarta as a `megapolitan' city?
>
> Second, the argument that Mr. Sutiyoso has given room for small and
> medium businesses has also contradicted the real facts from the
> ground. Mr. Sutiyoso's concern and commitment with small and medium
> business in Jakarta is strongly doubted. In his tenure Mr. Sutiyoso
> supports more the big capital owners, particularly in the property
> development (business centers, middle and upper middle class
> apartments, and office buildings). Even in the case of business
> centers, Mr. Sutiyoso has ignored the importance of safeguarding the
> environment and the city space planning. He has turned open green
> spaces, conservatory city forest and other public spaces into
> business activities and expensive housing complex. No wonder that the
> city areas prone to flood have vastly increased in recent years.
>
> Meanwhile, in his tenure, the growth of traditional markets has
> indicated negative trend (–8.4%) and the hypermarket has increased
> about 31.4% (AC Nielsen). From 151 traditional markets in Jakarta,
> now they remain only 20 percents that has future prospects, and from
> 120.000 street vendors now they remain only 70 percent who now fight
> for their survival. They could only afford their daily needs.
> (Source: Hasan Basri, the head of regional council of the APPSI in
> Jakarta, 2007)
>
> Third, at the same time, in Mr. Sutiyoso's tenure, Jakarta has turned
> into an unfriendly city to the poor communities. During 2001 to 2005
> at least 86 times of evictions of the poor areas has taken place that
> sacrificed at least 75.077 women and men; 74 times of evictions
> against street vendors that have caused the existence of 62,263 small
> and medium businesses; the demolition or expropriation of tricycles
> (becak), and 591 cases of fire or arson excluding the poor
> communities and 71 percents of (424 cases) of fire or arson to the
> poor communities' living places themselves. (Source: public reports
> from the mass media and other respected sources) In 2006 as many as
> 146 cases of evictions have destructed the living places and the
> working places of the poor communities. The evictions were often
> accompanied by massive violence involving thugs and arsons.
>
> Fourth, Indonesia received the worst reputation as `The Housing
> Rights Violators Awards 2003' from the international institute of The
> Center on Housing Rights and Evictions. Jakarta is the most
> outrageous perpetrators of people's rights.
>
> Fifth, the many evictions that Mr. Sutiyoso had ordered during 2001-
> 2003 was matched by a serious response from the Indonesian National
> Commission of Human Rights. In 2002, the commission pressurized Mr.
> Sutiyoso to hold moratorium of eviction for 100 days to find out
> alternative, better solutions.
>
> Sixth, the intensity and the vastness of the evictions ordered
> personally by Mr. Sutiyoso during 2002-2003 had prompted 15 noted
> academicians in Indonesia, who set up the Acadecians' Forum of
> Concern, to launch a public statement on November 11, 2003, lashing
> out and voicing out announcement to stop the evictions on behalf of
> the Jakarta administration. The academicians also pressurized the
> Jakarta administration to find out better, human and fair solution
> over the conflicts on public spaces that compromised the poor
> communities in the city. It is worth to note that one academician who
> hand signed the open letter on November 11, 2003 was Prof. Ir. Eko
> Budihardjo, MSc who is now the rector of the University of Diponegoro
> in Semarang. It is deeply ironical that the university awards the
> prestigious Doctorate of the Honoris Causa, based on the same
> argument that such noted public official i.e. the university rector
> formerly rejected.
>
> Seventh, other data about the main profile of Jakarta during 1997-
> 2007 has nullified the claim of success that Mr. Sutiyoso as the
> governor has shared room to small and medium businesses. See table
> below. Had he succeeded, such businesses should have improved the
> economic condition and created job openings for the poor. After all
> the data shows that the rate of poverty and unemployment in the city
> has not changed.
>
> Eighth, one week before the award of the Doctorate of Honoris Causa,
> on July 27, 2007, Mr. Sutiyoso proposed a revision to the city
> regulation No. 11/1988 on public order to the city council, adding
> another article that shall fine 50 million rupiah (US$5,494) and five
> month of jail threat to anybody who buy what the street vendors sell
> while she or he does not have the permission to do so. Such legal
> revision will certainly curtail the lives of many street vendors, who
> represent most of category of the small and medium businesses in the
> city. What Mr. Sutiyoso does by the end of his tenure of the Jakarta
> governor proves that he does not have minimum commitment to deliver
> rooms for small and medium businesses in the city.
>
> Based on the above arguments, we, once more, regret over the decision
> of the students senate and the rector of the University of Diponegoro
> in Semarang to award such prestigious academic, public honor to Mr.
> Sutiyoso. We are also very concerned about the process of taking
> decision in the Senate of the University of Diponegoro, that does not
> found on accurate information about the recipient candidate of the
> public honor. This could rise doubts or allegation about hidden
> agenda that involve certain parties that go against the academic
> values that put high nobility, honesty, openness and truth.
>
> To sum up, in order that most people keep their public trust to the
> University of Diponegoro as an academic institution because it keep
> its integrity in front of the interest of political and business
> power, we humbly ask the Rector and the Senate of the University of
> Diponegoro in Semarang to withdraw the Doctorate of Honoris Causa to
> Mr. Sutiyoso.
>
> Jakarta, July 3, 2007
> Jakarta Residents of Concern that consists of
>
> Academicians:
>
> Donny Gahral Adian (Lecturer of Department of Philosophy at the
> University of Indonesia, Jakarta)
> Dr. Karlina Supelli (Lecturer of the Post-graduate Studies on
> Philosophy at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta)
> Suryono Herlambang (Lecturer in Planning Science of the University of
> Tarumanegara in Jakarta)
> Dr. Faisal Basri (Member of `Indonesian Movement'; lecturer at the
> School of Economics at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta)
> Dr. B. Herry Priyono (Lecturer of the Post-graduate Studies on
> Philosophy at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta)
> Rudi Gunawan (Lecturer at the National Institute of Science and
> Technology [ISTN])
> Dr. Hendro Sangkoyo (SDE Indonesia)
> Kurnia Setiawan (Lecturer on Social Graphic Studies)
> Totok M Mukmin (Lecturer on Social Graphic Studies)
> Ine Rivayantina (Member of the Association of Indonesian
> Architects/Community Architects)
> Yayat Supriyatna (Lecturer on Regional Planning at the University of
> Trisakti in Jakarta)
> Dewi Susanti (Lecturer at the School of Architecture at the
> University of Pelita Harapan, Jakarta)
>
> Students groups:
>
> Indonesian Christian Students Movement (GMKI Jakarta) — (Jl. Salemba
> Raya 10 flat 20, Jakarta)
> The Senate of Students of the University of Empu Tantular, Jakarta —
> (Jl. Cipinang Besar, Jakarta Timur)
> Indonesian Muslim Students Movement (PB-PMII) — (Jl. Kramat Raya No.
> 164 Jakarta)
> Indonesian Student Movement Against Debt (ISMAD) — (Jl. Pangkalan
> Asem No. 17 Cempaka Putih Barat, Jakarta Pusat)
>
> Individuals dan journalists :
>
> Benny Susetyo, Pr ('Budayawan')
> Fajroel Rahman (Pedoman Indonesia)
> Mega Christina (Journalist)
> Ignatius Haryanto (Author, Journalist)
> Agus Sudibyo (SET Foundation)
> Nugroho Dewanto (Journalist)
>
> Groups of victims for eviction:
>
> Aliansi Rakyat Miskin (ARM) — (Our secretariat has been evicted!)
> Paguyuban Warga Anti Penggusuran (PAWANG) — (Secretariat evicted, no
> permanent address)
> Komunitas PKL Blok M — (Sekretariat: evicted)
> Asosiasi Pedagang Kaki Lima Indonesia (APKLI) — (Secretariat evicted,
> looking for place)
> Komunitas Warga Kalijodo — (Secretariat: Under the Jelambar fly-over,
> W. Jakarta)
>
> Civil Society Organizations:
>
> Perguruan Tinggi Dakwah Islam Indonesia — (Jl. Tawes No. 1 Tanjung
> Priok, Jakarta)
> Serikat Rakyat Miskin Kota (SRMK) — (Jl. Tebet Dalam II, Jakarta
> Selatan)
> Paguyuban Rakyat Miskin (PARAM) — (Belakang Gelanggang Mahasiswa
> Kuningan, Jakarta)
> Solidaritas Anak Jalanan untuk Demokrasi (SALUD) — (Stasiun Juanda,
> Jakarta Pusat)
> Federasi Organisasi Pedagang Pasar Indonesia (FOPPI) — (Jl Faletehan
> Raya No 2 Jakarta Selatan)
> Jakarta Center for Street Children (JCSC) — (Jl. Otista I gg Penghulu
> No.11 Jakarta Timur)
> Aliansi Buruh Menggugat — (Jl Basuki Rachmat 25 Jakarta)
> Urban Poor Consortium — (Kompleks Billy Moon Blok H1/7 Pondok Kelapa,
> Jakarta)
> LBH – Jakarta — (Jl. Mendut No.3 Jakarta Pusat)
> Institute for Ecosoc Rights — (Tebet Timur Dalam VI-C/17, Jakarta
> 12820)
> LBH APIK Jakarta (Jl. Kampung Tengah No. 6, Kramat Jati, Jakarta
> Timur)
> Ciliwung Merdeka (Jl. Bukit Duri I No. 21 RT 06/12 Tebet, Jakarta
> Selatan)
> Perhimpunan Bantuan Hukum Indonesia – PBHI Jakarta — (Jl. Salemba 1
> Jakarta Pusat)
> WALHI —(Jl. Tegal Parang Utara No. 14 Jakarta Selatan)
> Front Perjuangan Pemuda Indonesia (FPPI) — (Kayu Manis, Jakarta Timur)
> Jaringan Relawan Kemanusiaan – JRK Jakarta — (Jl. Bonang No. 1 A
> Jakarta Pusat)
> Perkumpulan Prakarsa — (Kompleks PWR Jl Taman Margasatwa 54
> Jatipadang, Jakarta Selatan)
> Indonesian Coruption Watch (ICW) — (Jl. Kalibata IV D No. 6 Jakarta
> Selatan)
> Yayasan Perlindungan Hak Anak (YPHA) — (Jl. Atahiriah II No. 18 A
> Pejaten Barat, Pasar Minggu, Jakarta Selatan)
> Fadli Fadilah (Community Development) – Condet Jakarta Timur
> Rudi Sumakto (Community Developmen) – Condet Jakarta Timur
> Trade Union Research Center (TURC) — (Pejompongan Baru I No. 6,
> Bendungan Hilir Jakarta)
> Perkumpulan DEMOS — (Jl Borobudur No 4 Jakarta Pusat)
> Arus Pelangi —(Jl Tebet Dalam IV No 3 Jakarta Selatan)
> Lembaga Studi Pers dan Pembangunan (LSPP) — (Jl. Penjernihan 1,
> Kompleks Keuangan N0. 12, Jakarta)
>
> Contact persons:
> 1. Asfin (0812 8218 930)
> 2. Benny Susetyo (0817 140 021)
> 3. Palupi (0813 1917 3650)
>
>
>
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