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Court commences hearing of historic air pollution lawsuit
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In a protest held on Dec. 5, environmental activists urge the Jakarta administration and the central government to do something about Jakarta's air pollution. (JP/Gisela Swaragita)
T
o:p>The Central Jakarta District Court has held its first hearing of a civil lawsuit over air pollution submitted by some Greater Jakarta residents in an effort to push the authorities to improve air quality.
The hearing on Thursday saw the panel of judges assess compliance with administrational requirements by both the plaintiffs and defendants before proceeding to the substantial matter.
The lawsuit, filed by residents grouped under Tim Advokasi Gerakan Ibukota (Jakarta Advocacy Movement Team) on July 5, is addressed to the President, the environment and the forestry minister, health minister and home minister as well as the governors of Jakarta, Banten and West Java.
Representatives of the aforementioned defendants, except for the Banten administration, attended the hearing on Thursday.
Presiding judge Saifudin Zuhri decided to adjourn the hearing to Aug. 22 with the same agenda, leaving some notes for both parties on preparing for the next hearing.
“All defendants have agreed and demand the hearing be adjourned because of a lack of formality,” he said, referring to some incomplete letters of authorities from the legal representatives.
One letter was from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) presented on behalf of one of the plaintiffs, while the other one was from the state secretary to represent the President, which was not signed by the attorney general.
