Keep criticisms indoors: Ginandjar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Shortcomings in national development should not
\nbe covered up. However, neither should they be used to tarnish
\nthe government's image abroad, said Minister of National
\nDevelopment Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita.<\/p>\n
Any problems in development should be discussed first with the
\nauthorities in order to work towards a gradual improvement of
\npolicies, Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
The minister made the remarks in a closed-door meeting with
\nactivists from local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on
\nMonday, which was held in the wake of his recent charges that
\nNGOs had disseminated lies in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said local NGOs have fabricated the stories of how
\ncoercion was used against women in the family planning and
\ntransmigration programs.<\/p>\n
The main points discussed in the closed meeting were listed by
\none of the attending NGOs, the Network for Forest Conservation in
\nIndonesia (SKEPHI), and sent to the press yesterday.<\/p>\n
The minister was not available for further comment yesterday.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar had criticized the NGOs on the basis of a taped
\ninterview of a radio talk show with New York-based NGOs.<\/p>\n
According to SKEPHI spokesman S. Indro Tjahjono, some NGO
\nmembers told Ginandjar in the meeting that he had blemished his
\nown public image.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar had campaigned a few months ago for more public
\ndebate over government policies. He expressed this view, much to
\nthe public's delight, when receiving his doctorate degree from a
\nstate-owned university.<\/p>\n
\"One person even asked Ginandjar what his interest in smearing
\nNGOs was,\" Indro told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"But Ginandjar insisted he was only expressing his concern.\"<\/p>\n
The NGO members, around 30 of them, who attended the talks
\nlistened to the contents of the taped interview.<\/p>\n
The NGO members, including Patricia Armstrong of the Lawyers'
\nCommittee for Human Rights, stressed the need of the World Bank
\nand the Consultative Group on Indonesia, two international
\nfunding institutions, to consider Indonesia's record on human
\nrights and environmental protection in their assistance programs.<\/p>\n
\"The important point about the talk show was that 90 percent
\nof the data was not from Indonesian NGOs,\" said Indro.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar had said local NGOs spread lies to foreign NGOs to
\nlobby international funding groups to reduce aid to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The talk show just raised issues which are similar to public
\nconcerns...such as assistance from international funding agencies
\nwhich are not ecologically and socially sound,\" said Indro.<\/p>\n
Quoting Ginandjar, Indro said \"telling the world\" of
\nIndonesia's shortcomings has been \"counter-productive.\" It has
\nresulted in the erosion of trust towards government institutions,
\nthe minister said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar cited the withdrawal of the insurance of PT Freeport
\nIndonesia by a United States agency, the Overseas Private
\nInvestment Corp. as one of the \"unfavorable results\" of the NGOs'
\nconstant criticism which the government must face.<\/p>\n
The minister said the National Development Planning Board
\n(Bappenas), which he chairs, acknowledges differences in opinion,
\nand that he was ready for more talks with NGOs.<\/p>\n
Indro regretted that the talks on Monday did not touch on how
\nthe government can look into criticism and act on it if
\nnecessary.<\/p>\n
\"We left the meeting wondering what he had summoned us for.\"
\nhe said.(anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/keep-criticisms-indoors-ginandjar-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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