People fear joining NGOs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Apart from restrictions on the right to
\nassemble, many people also fear joining associations the
\ngovernment doesn't recognize. But worse is the fear of not
\njoining certain organizations, like government-sponsored unions.<\/p>\n
In 1992 lawyer and labor activist Muchtar Pakpahan with about
\n100 laborers from 18 provinces founded Serikat Buruh Sejahtera
\nIndonesia (Indonesian Prosperous Workers Union -- SBSI), as a
\nreaction against the government sanctioned All Indonesian Workers
\nUnion (SPSI) which SBSI claimed couldn't defend and help its
\nmembers and their interests.<\/p>\n
SBSI, which is managed by the workers, would work only for the
\ninterests of laborers, said Pakpahan at the time. The fact that
\nthe workers themselves managed the organization proves it is a
\nworkers' union for workers and from workers, he argued.<\/p>\n
"It is different from SPSI, which is handled by the
\ngovernment," Pakpahan was quoted by the banned Tempo weekly in
\n1992.<\/p>\n
The union has been recognized by the International Labor
\nOrganization and accepted as a member by the International
\nConfederation of Free Trade Unions. At home, the government has
\nnot recognized it and advises laborers to join the sanctioned
\nSPSI.<\/p>\n
Indonesian civil servants are automatically considered members
\nof the Civil Servants Corps (Korpri) which began in 1971. There
\nis no written requirement but it is taken for granted that all
\ncivil servants and those working for government-owned bodies are
\nmembers of the organization. The employees of the National
\nLogistics Agency, for example, are required to join the corps
\neven though the agency is categorized as a non-department
\ninstitution.<\/p>\n
Since Korpri is also a main backer of the ruling Golkar
\nfaction, there is an understanding that members must vote for
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
"There is no regulation on the matter, but in every election
\nwe know how to vote," said a civil-servant who asked for
\nanonymity. (als)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/people-fear-joining-ngos-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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