Luh De Suriyani and Wasti Atmodjo, Denpasar – Hundreds of NGOs, community activists and victims of legal and human right abuses commemorated International Human Rights Day on Thursday with a call for sweeping reform of the judiciary.

Those taking part included members of the Indonesian Lawyers Association's Bali branch, the Indonesian Police Watch, the Manikaya Kauci Foundation and many others.

"There are so many 'black' lawyers operating in the legal system, causing so much injustice," said lawyer Agus Samijaya.

He added many lawyers were guilty of ethical violations. "Many legal cases are settled out of court by bribing court officials and involving case brokers," he claimed.

He cited a case of land acquisition in the Jimbaran area, where land was seized from local villagers to make way for the development of a luxury resort, golf course, hotels, restaurants and housing complexes.

In Buleleng, residents of Sumberkima village have filed a lawsuit against the local authorities for seizing their ancestral land to build an airstrip.

"Members of law enforcement institutions, including the police, prosecutors, judges and lawyers, have all violated human rights because of the corrupt legal system," Samijaya said.

Bali Advocates Association head I Made Suardana said many lawyers had become "legal mafioso" by fabricating evidence and cases. He pointed out the trial of murdered Radar Bali journalist Anak Agung Gde Prabangsa as being fishy.

"We'll consider punishing the lawyers who engineered the trial in the Prabangsa case," Suardana said, declining to say what exactly was wrong with the case.

Gunanjar, from the Manikaya Kauci Foundation, called on the police to reform.

"The police play a central role in enforcing the law," he said. "They're supposed to stand by the people whose rights were violated for whatever reason."

He added human rights violations were also taking place in the economic and ecological sectors.

During the event, participants collected coins to support Prita Mulyasari, the Jakarta housewife on trial for defamation after she complained in an email to friends about the poor treatment she had received at Omni International Hospital.

Local radio stations and the Bali Blog Community also asked Bali residents to support Prita.

Legal practitioner at Thursday's gathering said Prita's persecution by Omni could be considered a violation of human rights.