Minister warns of NGOs used for foreign interests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Development Planning Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita warned yesterday of non-governmental organizations
\n(NGOs) working for foreign political interests under the guise of
\nsocial work.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the increasingly important role NGOs play in
\nthe materialization of people's aspirations for civil society,
\nGinandjar said NGOs must be a source of empowerment for the
\npeople and not a destructive element.<\/p>\n
\"Apart from the government guaranteeing these groups the
\nfreedom to perform their functions, there must also be assurances
\nfrom the organizations that their actions are truly for the
\npeople and not a guise for political activities. Especially
\nthose connected with foreign interests,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar was lecturing on Power and Empowerment at the Ismail
\nMarzuki Arts Center in Central Jakarta yesterday. He was the
\nkeynote speaker in a ceremony celebrating the center's 28th
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar noted the increasing popularity of the concept of an
\nindependent civil society with minimum state intervention.<\/p>\n
A growing civil society is marked by thriving interest groups
\nlike non-governmental organizations, he said.<\/p>\n
NGOs and other interest groups have begun to emerge in
\nIndonesia, Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
But he warned these groups could be exploited to serve
\nparticular political interests.<\/p>\n
\"The aim of empowerment thus becomes ambiguous because it is
\nusing its pressure for political interests which may not be the
\naspirations of the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar did not give examples. The government recently
\nclaimed 32 NGOs were a problem to the government, including the
\nnow banned People's Democratic Party (PRD).<\/p>\n
The government has accused the PRD of inciting the July 27
\nriots in Jakarta and of having communist leanings.<\/p>\n
\"Empowerment in the political field doesn't mean radicalism or
\nefforts to overthrow the government,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
\"It is true that we still need clear rules for the game so
\nthat their activities strengthen people's capabilities without
\nmaking trouble,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that even in other countries the concept of a civil
\nsociety had not yet crystallized and established into a solid
\nform.<\/p>\n
Poverty<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said empowering people was a way to alleviate
\npoverty.<\/p>\n
He said as there are fewer people living below the poverty
\nline, the government needs to take more assertive measures since
\nthe general practices applied in the past will become less and
\nless effective.<\/p>\n
He said each member of society has potential to be developed.
\nEmpowerment creates an enabling factor which allows this to
\nhappen.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said an environment conducive to developing people's
\npotential was needed.<\/p>\n
The minister said empowerment entailed a responsibility to
\nprotect the weak. This should not translate into isolation or
\ndiscrimination, but rather toward the maintenance of a fair and
\nbalanced competition between forces of equal strength. (mds)<\/p>\n
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