Police eye outspoken activists<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Authorities are closely monitoring activists of 20 local and
\nforeign non-governmental organizations (NGO), a move that could
\nherald a crackdown on outspoken government critics.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Wednesday
\nthat his office took as a warning a report that 20 local and
\nforeign NGOs were issuing reports that could trigger security
\ndisturbances in the July 5 presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"We are handling this by reminding them (that their reports)
\nshould not disturb national security, but we are also prepared to
\ntake other moves (to deal with) possible provocation,\" Da'i said
\nafter a ministerial meeting.<\/p>\n
Arrests of activists and individuals critical to government
\npolicies were commonplace during the autocratic leadership of
\npresident Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Da'i did not specify the 20 NGOs but earlier reports suggested
\nthat the Brussel-based International Crisis Group (ICG) and the
\nInstitute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam) were among
\nthose on the watch list.<\/p>\n
The general said that the law would take its full course once
\npolice obtained sufficient evidence against those activists.<\/p>\n
Separately, ICG Indonesia director Sidney Jones said that
\nauthorities had threatened to expel her because of the group's
\nreports on Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The government, according to Jones, has forced the group to
\nstop operating in the country on May 10 and refused to extend
\nwork permits for its foreign staff.<\/p>\n
\"The manpower ministry informed me about the policy, but it
\nremains unclear why the authorities took the decision. I recently
\nmet officials at the ministry, asking for a clarification about
\nthe closing of ICG.<\/p>\n
\"They did not clearly elaborate, but merely claimed that the
\ndecision was due to complaints from various parties. The
\nofficials, however, refused to specify the complaints,\" Jones
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
ICG has issued a number of critical reports on a wide variety
\nof issues, including the war in Aceh, the religious violence in
\nAmbon and Poso, Central Sulawesi, and the activities of regional
\nterrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) told the House of
\nRepresentatives on Tuesday that 20 local and foreign NGOs were
\nworking to disturb security during the country's first direct
\npresidential election on July 5.<\/p>\n
Jones, in a statement sent to the Post, quoted foreign
\nminister Hassan Wirayuda as saying that ICG's reports were biased
\nand that the government had the right to expel whoever it chose.<\/p>\n
But, foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said that the
\ngovernment was not in the business of removing people from the
\ncountry but added that the foreign ministry has nothing to do
\nwith Jones' work permit.<\/p>\n
\"This is a classic case of someone trying to make a martyr of
\noneself. They are creating a crisis which is non-existent between
\nthe Indonesian government and the ICG,\" Marty was quoted by
\nAgence France-Presse as saying.<\/p>\n
Jones said the authorities have monitored ICG's reports
\ncautiously and \"they fear that they may affect the upcoming
\nelection\".<\/p>\n
She said she had been trying unsuccessfully for two months to
\nmeet BIN director Hendropriyono to discuss her group's work.<\/p>\n
ICG president Gareth Evans, a former Australian foreign
\nminister, said in a statement he had total confidence in Jones
\nand the Jakarta team.<\/p>\n
\"I think the Indonesian government should take into account
\nthat if we are expelled from Indonesia, this will do far more
\ndamage to Indonesia's reputation than the ICG's,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-eye-outspoken-activists-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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