T

he Yap Thiam Hien Foundation has named lawyer and activist Handoko Wibowo the 2015 recipient of the rights accolade for his relentless effort to fight for the land rights of farmers in Central Java.

Foundation chairman Todung Mulya Lubis said that the panel of judges decided to give the award to Handoko, a 53-year-old Chinese-Indonesian, to inspire young advocates to fight for marginalized people.

'€œHandoko is a role model. He is someone who chose not to become an advocate surrounded by material things. These are the things that I think should be honored,'€ he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Handoko will receive the award in a ceremony at the National Museum in Central Jakarta on Wednesday night.

Handoko'€™s commitment to promoting the rights of farmers was proven by his decision to give up his law practice in 2001 to focus on land conflicts in Batang, Central Java.

'€œIn 1998, my neighbors, who were farmers, were causing riots, damaging the house of one of the foremen of a private company. I was surprised to learn that many of my neighbors were really poor [because they were victims of extortion by the foreman whose house was targeted],'€ Handoko told the Post on Tuesday.

After that, he tried to facilitate mediation between the farmers and the company.

'€œMany farmers came to me [for help], thousands of them. Therefore, it was hard for me to divide my time between my professional career as a lawyer [and my advocacy work for farmers]. So I decided to shut down my law firm in 2001, but not because I was bankrupt [laughing],'€ Handoko said.

Since then, he has been advocating the rights of farmers in Central Java, helping them defend their land through peaceful means.

'€œI always prioritize dialogue and networking. I have always criticized my friends who think that advocating means fighting and making enemies. That'€™s not the case, including in land conflicts,'€ said Handoko.

He said that he fed these farmers with information through a social movement called Omah Tani, which was established seven years after he closed his law practice. Through Omah Tani, Handoko provided legal consultation, education, food as well as temporary shelters for those in need. This has helped farmers gain equal footing with other stakeholders during discussions.

'€œWhen dialogue is carried out, they have dignity,'€ Handoko said.

In his early days as an advocate, he said that he had to help farmers from his own pocket.

'€œIt was a bit difficult [financially]. I wasn'€™t able to keep my practice open. It would be funny to help rich clients who are in conflict with farmers while at the same time defending the same farmers. But that'€™s alright, I'€™m not married and have no kids anyway [laughing],'€ Handoko said. '€œThat said, I inherited an 8-hectare clover plantation from my father that can be harvested every year.'€

Besides helping farmers, he said that he was also open to lending a hand to other marginalized groups, such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

'€œMy house has turned into an oasis [for the marginalized]. For example, I'€™ve been helping the LGBT community in fighting HIV/AIDS. This is what makes us successful as we don'€™t focus only on one area,'€ said Handoko.

He said that his advocacy work and peaceful approach had earned him many friends, from thugs to politicians.

'€œWe know so many people that we are never attacked, even though I am a Christian and Chinese-Indonesian,'€ Handoko said.

Commenting on the award, he said he was surprised to get a call from the foundation.

'€œAt first I thought it was a joke, [laughing]'€ said Handoko. '€œBecause my work [as an advocate] is quiet, far from attention-grabbing. Land conflicts rarely attract the attention of the middle class. Therefore, this award means that there are still people concerned about this issue.'€

In the end, he considered winning the award a triumph for the farmers'€™ movement.

'€œThis is a win for all, not only for me. This award will remind people that this movement is a worthwhile one,'€ Handoko said.