Crackdown on NGOs arbitrary: Activists<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Rights activists warned on Thursday against cracking down on non-
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs) that were critical of
\ngovernment policies, as the move would tarnish the country's
\nfragile democracy.<\/p>\n
\"The move against activists is baseless. We're living in a
\nreform era; if the government considers their reports
\nthreatening, it should discuss the issues with the activists,\"
\nTodung Mulya Lubis told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Todung, a noted rights activist and lawyer, said suggestions
\nthat the NGOs' reports would threaten national security during
\nthe July 5 presidential election were naive.<\/p>\n
\"No country, including Indonesia, is able to hide information
\nin the world today, when communication technology has developed
\nvery rapidly,\" he said, adding that any crackdown against
\nactivists would have international repercussions.<\/p>\n
\"There will be backlash from the international community, if
\nthe government takes firm action against activists,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Wednesday that
\nauthorities were closely monitoring activists of 20 local and
\nforeign NGOs for issuing reports detrimental to national
\nsecurity.<\/p>\n
Da'i did not divulge the names of the NGOs, but National
\nIntelligence Agency (BIN) director Gen. (ret) Hendropriyono told
\nthe House of Representatives on Wednesday that the Brussels-based
\nInternational Crisis Group (ICG) and the Institute for Policy
\nResearch and Advocacy (Elsam) were on the watch list.<\/p>\n
ICG Indonesia director Sidney Jones said on Wednesday that
\nauthorities had refused to extend the work permits of the ICG's
\nforeign staff, forcing the group to stop operating in the country
\nand virtually telling them to leave.<\/p>\n
\"The ICG is a reputable NGO founded by former world leaders.
\nExpelling its director from the country would confirm public
\nfears that the New Order regime is coming back,\" Todung said.<\/p>\n
Arrests of activists and individuals critical of the
\ngovernment were common during the 32 years of the Soeharto
\nadministration, also known as the New Order.<\/p>\n
Elsam chairman Ifdhal Kasim said on Thursday he had no idea
\nwhy the NGO was included on the watch list, as no government or
\nsecurity officials had ever complained about its activities.<\/p>\n
\"We have never received complaints from anyone, including law
\nenforcers. Our reports are mostly about government policies on
\nhuman rights and legal reforms.<\/p>\n
\"Our criticisms are based on scientific analysis, because they
\nare intended for policymakers, not for the general public. We
\nhave never violated any laws...,\" Ifdhal told the Post.<\/p>\n
He said plans to crackdown on activists was intimidation
\nagainst civil society, which was a common practice during
\nSoeharto's leadership.<\/p>\n
\"This kind of intimidation is the old method applied by the
\nNew Order against its opponents. It is unfortunate the culture is
\nstill alive in the so-called democratic era,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The ICG has released a number of reports on a variety of
\nissues, including the war in Aceh, religious conflict in Ambon
\nand Poso, Central Sulawesi, activities of regional terrorist
\nnetwork Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) in Indonesia and security reform.<\/p>\n
Elsam has published reports on the East Timor and 1984 Tanjung
\nPriok massacre human rights tribunals, legal reform and
\nrecommendations on the establishment of a truth and
\nreconciliation commission.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/crackdown-on-ngos-arbitrary-activists-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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