Therefore, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) has encouraged all parties to campaign for disability-friendly policies ahead of the Asian Para Games (APG) on October 6 to 13, 2018 in Jakarta.
Indonesia is organizing the Asian Para Games in October this year. The country is expected to be remembered as one that is friendly toward people with disabilities.
APG is a momentum to make all parties aware of the importance of equality of positions of persons with disabilities and be actively involved in disability-friendly campaigns.
Kemenko PMK Deputy for Cultural Coordination Nyoman Shuida remarked that the idea behind the disability-friendly campaign was the direction of Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani.
Maharani is responsible as the steering committee chairman of Asian Para Games Organizing Committee (INAPGOC).
She expressed hope that, during the Asian Para Games, there would not be social practices that make people with disabilities as objects of bullying, jokes, and objects of discrimination.
In the meantime, Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita remarked on Wednesday that one of the tasks of the Ministry of Social Affairs is to build a `legacy.` After the Asian Para Games, it is hoped that Indonesia would be remembered by the world as a country that continuously improves facilities and infrastructure and is friendly towards the disabled.
According to him, the duty of the Ministry of Social Affairs was to ensure that the facilities and infrastructure were up to the comfort of the guests who landed at the airport, at the athletes` house, and the arena of the matches.
In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provided reinforcements to voluntary coordinators or volunteers with regard to providing friendly services to athletes and spectators with disabilities.
"This is a state effort to provide equal rights to people with disabilities as mandated by Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning persons with disabilities," he noted.
It is stated in the law that persons with disabilities have the right to play sports, get the same awards in sports, obtain services in sports activities, and obtain sports facilities and infrastructure that are easily accessible.
"We hope that people with disabilities are given equal treatment not only during the Asian Para Games but also after this sporting event. Similar treatment should continue to be implemented in daily life, accompanied by the provision of disabled-friendly public facilities in various regions across Indonesia," the social affairs minister remarked.
Hence, the APG is a momentum for Indonesian people to give their deep respect and praise to their brothers and sisters with disabilities.
The rights of persons with disabilities who will compete in the Asian Para Games must be respected, fulfilled, and protected as the state protects the rights of other citizens.
During the Asian Para Games torch relay in Denpasar, Bali, recently, the social affairs minister remarked that the rights of disabled athletes must be fulfilled and protected during the international sporting event.
The minister then invited the whole community to foster the spirit of concern for the people with disabilities through this Asian Para Games competition.
Kartasasmita revealed that his party would do everything possible so that every detail related to facilities at the venue, volunteer officers, and transportation for athletes would meet the requirements for persons with disabilities.
He expressed hope that both athletes and spectators with disabilities can feel comfortable during the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta.
Therefore, coordination with the Asian Para Games Organizing Committee and related ministries / institutions must be improved.
As a sign of appreciation and respect for athletes with disabilities, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has stated that the Asian Para Games athletes who win the medal will be treated in the same way as the medalists at the previous Asian Games.
Jokowi added that the bonuses that would be given to the medalists at the Asian Para Games would be the same as those given to medalists at the Asian Games.
The government has provided a total of Rp210 billion in bonuses for local athletes and coaches taking part in the 2018 Asian Games and Rp20 million to each athlete who did not win a medal in the Asian Games.
Each individual gold medalist competing in a singles event during the Asian Games received Rp1.5 billion, Rp1 billion in doubles event, and Rp750 million in team events.
Each individual silver and bronze medalist competing in the Asian Games received Rp500 million and Rp250 million in singles event,; Rp400 million and Rp200 million in doubles event; and Rp300 million and Rp150 million in team events, respectively.
And to be fair, the bonus amount received by Asian Games athletes who won medals must also be given to those of Asian Para Games too.
The number of participants of the upcoming Asian Para Games will reach some four thousand athletes from 42 countries, an increase from around 2.8 thousand athletes from 41 nations during the previous Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Editing by Yoseph Haryadi
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
