Govt to curb foreign NGOs in Aceh<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights is drafting tough
\nregulations to limit the presence of foreign non-governmental
\norganization (NGO) activists in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, further
\nclosing the province to independent scrutiny.<\/p>\n
The regulations, which only allow activists to stay in the
\nwar-torn province for 14 days and a maximum extension of 30 days
\ndepending on the approval of the martial law administration,
\nfollow a presidential decree restricting foreigners' activities.<\/p>\n
Ministry director general Iman Santoso said foreign activists
\ncould only enter the province through the capital of Banda Aceh
\nand must immediately report themselves to the local immigration
\noffice as well as to the police.<\/p>\n
\"The Ministry will issue permits to foreign activists to visit
\nAceh province by examining their organizations and their terms of
\nstay.<\/p>\n
\"During their presence there, we, along with the military
\nauthorities, will also monitor their activities to determine
\nwhether they violate the conditions stipulated in the permit or
\nnot.<\/p>\n
\"They also have to inform the Ministry on the amount of funds
\nto be donated to local people,\" Iman said after chairing a
\nmeeting on Aceh issues at the Office of the Coordinating Minister
\nfor Political and Security Affairs on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The government will likely only allow foreign NGOs dealing
\nwith humanitarian issues to visit Aceh, while others have
\nreportedly been involved in \"sponsoring secessionist movements in
\nAceh as well as the country's other regions, including Papua.\"<\/p>\n
Iman, however, said the government had yet to reregister
\nforeign NGOs concerned with Aceh issues.<\/p>\n
Present at the meeting were officials from related ministries,
\nincluding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Police.<\/p>\n
Last week, President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a decree
\nthat restricts foreigners from traveling to Aceh during
\nimplementation of martial law to \"prevent foreigners from
\nbecoming victims in the Aceh conflict.\"<\/p>\n
The decree also stipulates that the government will supervise
\nthe presence of foreign activists and journalists to promote
\n\"transparency\" during the ongoing military operation.<\/p>\n
Foreigners must secure a permit from the Ministry of Justice
\nand Human Rights should they insist on traveling to the restive
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
NGO activists must obtain a permit from the Office of the
\nCoordinating Minister for People's Welfare while journalists,
\nincluding locals working as correspondents for foreign media,
\nneed to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
The restrictions come after two German tourists were shot, one
\nof them fatally, two weeks after Jakarta imposed martial law in
\nAceh on May 19. On Tuesday, American freelance journalist William
\nNessen gave up to Indonesian authorities after embedding himself
\nwith the rebel's without obtaining government permission.<\/p>\n
Three journalists working for foreign media have been expelled
\nfrom the province by the military.<\/p>\n
\"The regulation will come into effect soon after the Minister
\nsigns the decree,\" Iman said, referring to Yusril Ihza Mahendra.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-curb-foreign-ngos-in-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}