Asia Foundation struggles to strengthen civil society<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While many private organizations tend to shy
\naway from issues concerning political development, the Asia
\nFoundation, through its own quiet work, has clearly underlined
\nstrengthening civil societies as one of its objectives.<\/p>\n
However unlike other crusaders for political rights, the
\nfoundation has gone about it in a discreet and unobtrusive
\nfashion.<\/p>\n
Douglas E. Ramage, the Asia Foundation's representative here,
\nwhile underlining the importance of its work in areas of
\npromoting democracy, political openness and free and open
\nmarkets, also stresses that the foundation is not trying "to tell
\nIndonesians what to do."<\/p>\n
"We're not here to promote anything that the Indonesian people
\nare not interested in doing," he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He claims that while the Foundation is active in areas of
\npolitical development, it does not have a political agenda.<\/p>\n
The Asia Foundation was established in 1954 with the aim of
\npromoting U.S.-Asian understanding and encouraging cooperation
\nand also focuses on strengthening representative governments and
\nlegal systems, an independent press, fostering market economies,
\naccountability in both the public and private sectors and
\nincreasing broad participation in public life.<\/p>\n
It receives its US$40-million annual budget from both the
\nprivate and public sectors; about half is donated by the United
\nStates' government.<\/p>\n
Though it has been involved in various projects here since
\n1955, it was not until 1971 that it set up a representative
\noffice in Jakarta. This year therefore represents the 25th
\nanniversary of the foundation's activities here.<\/p>\n
The Foundation now has 14 offices in the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n
Throughout the years its work has evolved from mere grant-
\nmaking into a resource organization providing assistance in the
\ndesign of policies and policy frameworks.<\/p>\n
Some of its most recent initiatives include creating a
\nframework for an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.<\/p>\n
The work in this area began in 1993 with the Indonesian Center
\nfor Environmental Law. The foundation is also working with the
\nNational Development Planning Board on larger issues of
\nalternative dispute resolution.<\/p>\n
The foundation also supports cooperation programs with the
\nIndonesian House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
In 1995 it also launched a program with the Nahdlatul Ulama
\nfor a creative program of leadership development that is
\nparticipatory, non-hierarchical and grass-roots oriented.<\/p>\n
When asked why the foundation engaged in such activities,
\nRamage answered diplomatically: "the support of civil societies
\nin itself is a good thing."<\/p>\n
He added that helping to break down misconceptions between
\nAsian and American societies is an important aspect of
\nestablishing closer cooperation in the future.<\/p>\n
"It does no one any good to have misunderstandings," he said.
\n(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asia-foundation-struggles-to-strengthen-civil-society-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}