Exposed to Diseases Due to Jakarta Air Pollution, Residents Can Sue for Compensation

Community activities using masks (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A number of residents who are members of the Indonesian Clean Air Forum (FUBI) plan to file a lawsuit for compensation for Jakarta's air pollution.

Executive Director of the Committee for the Elimination of Leaded Gasoline (KPBB) Ahmad Safrudin as a representative for FUBI said that people who are affected by air pollution on their health are also allowed to join in filing this lawsuit.

Safrudin explained, residents who have respiratory disease and have incurred medical expenses can contact KPBB by including their personal data and proof of medical expenses.

"Later, just contact us if you want to join the lawsuit, then we will follow up, we will help with proof and so on. For example, A has an ARI, we check receipts for his treatment, we check evidence that he was indeed treated, what was treated, and so on," said Safrudin when contacted, Monday, August 28.

Safrudin explained the reason his party decided to file a class action lawsuit demanding compensation costs. According to him, Jakarta's current air pollution has proven to have a direct negative impact on the community because it has affected their health.

"People get sick or get sick because they are related to air pollution so they have to spend money, so they feel uncomfortable, so they feel burdened, they have to go to the hospital. They also have to pay fees and so on. Later we hope that the polluters will compensate anyone polluted," he explained.

In this case, the parties who will become the defendants are companies suspected of being the perpetrators of air pollution. This company is not only located in Jakarta, but also in buffer zones.

"There are many suspicions. Not only in Jakarta, but also in Bodetabek. We are still investigating this. For example, in Pulogadung there are nine of the largest companies. Then at several points on the Jakarta border, such as Tangerang, Cikarang, there are also many. So, we are not limited by area, which it is important that the company pollutes, we will target it," said Safrudin.

Not only companies, other parties who will become defendants in this lawsuit are the government, especially the Ministry of Industry. Safrudin continued, the Governor of DKI Jakarta and heads of regions in the buffer zones were also the defendants.

"The DKI will definitely be hit too, we suspect. We haven't checked properly, but there's already been a company case in Cakung. The provincial government will definitely be the defendant because if, for example, we just sue the company, later in court it will be declared less defendant," he said.

The plan, the lawsuit for compensation will be filed in the next two weeks. Currently, FUBI is collecting data regarding residents who want to join the lawsuit. The number of residents who have joined the lawsuit has reached 50 people and the number is still growing.