JAKARTA - The lawsuit of the asbestos manufacturing association (FICMA) at the Central Jakarta District Court against the Non-Governmental Consumer Protection Agency (LPKSM) Yasa Nata Budi is now in the international spotlight.
The claim for compensation filed by FICMA worth IDR 790 billion against LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi is considered by various international institutions as a strategic lawsuit against public participation (strategic lawsuit against public participation-SLAPP). Various international organizations participated in providing judicial support in the case filed by FICMA against LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi.
Also present at the trial this time, Hariz Azhar, Founder of Lokataru, Lecturer of the High School of Law Jentera, as an Expert witness to explain SLAPP.
SLAPP's lawsuit indicates that there is an intention or intention to weaken the position of public participation actors. Weakening from the time side, costs etc. so that the concentration is lost or fails optimally. Physical attacks, slander attacks, doxing, legal and administrative attacks were sued, reported to the police, disturbed by the organization, "explained Hariz, quoted on Tuesday, September 16.
"The SLAP is to question the participation of citizens. Slapp has become the concern of the United Nations. Special reporters of human rights at the United Nations reported that many findings of business practices carried out attacks on citizen activists on OHCHR. What was attacked was public participation. Public participation has no limit," Hariz added again.
For information, in April 2024 FICMA filed a lawsuit against the law at the Central Jakarta District Court against Leo Yoga Pranata, Ajat Sudrajat, Dhicci Sandewa, LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi, and others. FICMA assessed the decision of the Supreme Court by winning LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi which revoked the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 25 of 2021 concerning Determination of Goods that Mandatory to Use or Complement Indonesian Language Labels caused a potential loss of Rp7.9 trillion to him.
FICMA also filed an argument for an error in the decision of the Supreme Court justice caused by the absence of Law No.10 of 2013 concerning Ratification of the Rotterdam Convention in a judicial review lawsuit filed by LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi.
A number of International Institutions have reiterated the Danger of Asbestos The well-known independent research institutes domiciled in Italy, Collegiam Ramazini, who has also long conducted research on the impact of asbestos, said that all forms of asbestos are proven to be carcinogenous for humans. All forms of asbestos cause malignant mesotolioms, lung cancer, larng, and ovaries, as well as can cause gastrointestinal cancer and other cancers.
It was added that no asbestos exposure was risk-free. Cancer victims due to asbestos died with painful and prolonged deaths. This death is almost completely preventable.
"We urge that all products containing asbestos sold in Indonesia be required to include health warning labels informing industry, workers, and the public that all types of asbestos, including the Asbestos of Kristotil, are the cause of cancer in humans," said Melissa McDiarimid, President of Collegiam Ramazini.
The same thing was conveyed by Prof. Mathew J Pieters, McAriie University Australia, that all forms of asbestos exposure, including a single exposure to Kristotil, could lead to the entire spectrum of the disease related to asbestos.
"Every statement expressing doubts that the exposure to asbestos, including a single exposure to Kristotics, is not a carcinogen for humans is a reckless act and is not in line with the weight of epidemiological evidence and basic scientific evidence," said Prof. Mathew.
The International Aid Organization established by the Australian labor union, Union Aid Abroad APHEDA reminded the Indonesian government as the signing of the IPEF (Indo Pacific Economic Forum), that within the pillars of the IPEF state agreement, it agreed to work together to make a transition from asbestos to a safer alternative and jointly reduce the number of asbestos-related diseases.
Kate Lee, APHEDA Executive Officer said there was clear and undeniable evidence regarding the risk of cancer and other diseases related to the exposure of Asbestos Kristotil and all types of asbestos to humans.
"Asian Development Bank (ADB) has decided to prohibit all materials containing asbestos from any investment it supports, effective from January 2026," said Lee.
Support for the decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia which won the LPKSM lawsuit Yasa Nata Budi regarding the mandatory labeling of asbestos roof products was also filed by the international coalition Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS)-England, Asian Ban Asbestos Network (ABAN)-Japan, Asian Citizen's Center for Environment and Health (ACCEH)-Korea, Brazilian Association of the Asbestos-Exposed-Brazil, Merseyside Asbestos Victim Group Liverpool, Great Britain (MAVS).
The Coalition said it had monitored all judicial processes and judicial decisions since the beginning of the victory of LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi until it was sued by FICMA.
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"We unanimously support the decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia in 2024 which requires the inclusion of warning labels in Indonesian on all roof materials containing asbestos sold in Indonesia. This decision is a crucial step in protecting public health and work health in Indonesia", said the leaders of the institution represented by Laurie Kazzan Allen from IBAS.
Responding to the swift international support so that the Central Jakarta District Court is firm in rejecting the FICMA lawsuit, LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi through the Chair of the Advocacy Division, Leo Yoga Pranata, said that this is proof that products containing asbestos have indeed become the world's attention.
"We believe that the Central Jakarta District Court Judge will increasingly be confident in deciding that the FICMA lawsuit cannot be accepted in the name of humanity," said Leo.
Coordinator of Indonesia Ban Asbestos, Darisman said the support of dozens of well-known international organizations for LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi and the Central Jakarta District Court will continue to grow along with the increasing SLAPP efforts made by FICMA.
"We know who is behind the spirit of FICMA to sue LPKSM Yasa Nata Budi. They are a network of international lobbyists who have large and important money so that Indonesia continues to use asbestos. We will continue to fight them with solidarity," he said.
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