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‘Get your act right', plaintiffs fume as government ignores air pollution hearing
The hearing for the air pollution citizen lawsuit filed by Tim Advokasi Gerakan Ibukota at the Central Jakarta District Court is adjourned to September 12.
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Smog blankets Jakarta’s skyscrapers on Aug. 19. Air pollution in the city is among the worst in the world. (JP/Donny Fernando)
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esidents and activists have demanded that the government take seriously an air pollution lawsuit filed against it nearly two months ago by fed-up residents, as the legal proceedings have yet to move forward as the court keeps adjourning the hearing.
The plaintiffs, grouped under Tim Advokasi Gerakan Ibokota (Jakarta Advocacy Movement Team) urged the defendant to prepare better for the next court hearing, deeming that the current efforts of the Jakarta administration to mitigate air pollution were still not enough.
The Central Jakarta District Court commenced the first hearing on Aug. 1, assessing compliance of administration requirements by both the plaintiffs and defendants. The lawsuit filed by the group was addressed to the President, the Environment and Forestry Minister, Health Minister, Home Minister as well as the governors of Jakarta, Banten and West Java.
However, the hearing was adjourned to Aug. 22 as the Banten administration did not show up. On Aug. 22, the panel of judges again adjourned the hearing because it was another no-show for the Banten administration. The Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta), which also filed another lawsuit on the same matter, had also failed to show up as the intervening plaintiff at the hearing.
The hearing was adjourned to Sept. 12.
Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) public attorney Ayu Eza Tiara said she urged all parties to make the commitment to show up at the next hearing, lest it be adjourned again.
“We hope they all show up and have completed [their required files],” Ayu told reporters on Wednesday.
