NGOs fail to absorb basic issues at grass roots<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Representatives of more than 200 non-governmental organizations
\n(NGOs) began a three-day national conference here on Monday to
\ndiscuss their roles in society and address concerns that NGOs
\nhave failed to adapt to changes during the reform era.<\/p>\n
A panelist at the meeting, Asmara Nababan from Demos, an
\norganization dealing with democracy and human rights, said NGOs
\nhad failed to absorb the basic issues at the grassroots level
\nduring the democratization era.<\/p>\n
He also said NGO activists had failed to educate people about
\ncivil rights, including political rights, leaving politicians to
\ntake charge of the issue. He said the result of this was to turn
\nthe reform era into a \"pseudodemocracy\".<\/p>\n
Activists regard themselves as \"charismatic figures\", and are
\nnot concerned whether their actions represent the best interests
\nand wishes of the people, Asmara said.<\/p>\n
\"None of us can claim that the reform era has created a pure
\ndemocracy that puts people's sovereignty above all else. What we
\nare facing now is the abuse of democracy itself by the political
\nelite,\" Asmara said.<\/p>\n
He was referring to various government bodies that were formed
\nby post-New Order administrations, such as the anticorruption
\ncommission that replaced the KPKPN last year, which was
\nauthorized to examine state officials' wealth, and the National
\nLaw Commission.<\/p>\n
None of these commissions have benefited the people due to
\ntheir lack of effective roles, Asmara said.<\/p>\n
He added that many NGO activists did not understand their main
\nrole of educating the public about crucial sociopolitical issues.<\/p>\n
During the New Order regime of Soeharto, who ruled the country
\nfor 32 years until his downfall in 1998, NGOs played an effective
\nrole in campaigning for freedom of expression and other basic
\nrights for the nation.<\/p>\n
During the New Order, antimilitarism and human rights, as well
\nas democracy, became salable and prominent issues for Indonesian
\nNGOs.<\/p>\n
Following Soeharto's resignation, such issues were no longer
\nas relevant for non-governmental organizations due to the
\nemergence of democracy in the country.<\/p>\n
Monday's meeting was attended by more than 200 NGOs from 28
\nprovinces. The organizations are concerned with a variety of
\nissues, including democracy, human rights, press freedom, the
\nenvironment and law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Among the organizations attending the meeting are the
\nCommission for Victims of Violence and Missing Persons, the Legal
\nAid Foundation, Impartial, leading environmental group Walhi and
\nthe Alliance of Independent Journalists.<\/p>\n
During the conference, participants will share their views and
\nexperiences before concluding the gathering on Wednesday with
\nrecommendations on new strategies and platforms of action.<\/p>\n
Another speaker on Monday, sociologist Thamrin Amal Tamagola
\nof the University of Indonesia, said NGO activists should not be
\nreluctant to become involved in practical politics to promote
\nbetter administrations at the local and national levels.<\/p>\n
\"The ongoing presidential election provides the nation with
\nonly two candidates, who cannot be separated from the old
\nregimes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who last week won
\nthe support of three major parties, two of which were linked to
\nthe New Order regime -- the Golkar Party and the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) -- is contesting the September runoff
\nagainst Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has a military
\nbackground.<\/p>\n
\"Looking at the two candidates, where will we go with our
\ndemocracy?\" Thamrin asked.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ngos-fail-to-absorb-basic-issues-at-grass-roots-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}