Activist urges govt to name unruly NGOs

JAKARTA (JP): An activist attacked the government yesterday for often accusing "certain" non-governmental organizations (NGO) of tarnishing its image but failing to name them.

Firman Lubis, chief of the Kusuma Buana Foundation, an NGO on health and population, said the government should not generalize by saying NGOs are "recalcitrant".

The government should take action only against NGOs it deems offensive, he said.

"It should be made clear whom they wish to take action against. The punitive action should also be based on the rules of the game," Firman said.

Making the remarks after attending a seminar on the role of NGOs and the United Nations, Firman stressed the need for transparency in the government's actions.

"Crackdowns on NGOs should have a clear basis. It shouldn't be a matter of like and dislike," he remarked after the opening day of the two-day seminar at the UN Information Center.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. recently warned of stern action against what he called recalcitrant NGOs. Without naming them, he said these NGOs could lose government recognition.

NGOs in Indonesia have to declare and register themselves to the Ministry of Home Affairs' directorate general of social and political affairs to get official recognition.

When asked whether the government would take legal action against these supposedly "unruly" NGOs, Yogie said it had yet to be determined what laws they had broken.

Firman argued that if certain NGOs were being accused of violating laws then they should be given a chance to defend themselves.

The government has accused some NGOs of selling out the nation by accepting funds from abroad.

The July 27 riots which the government blamed on the little- known Democratic People's Party (PRD) has prompted the government to ask NGOs to reregister.

Government officials have also said they plan to make a new law to regulate NGOs and their activities.

Firman maintained that the existing laws are sufficient to handle NGOs and that the urgency of a new law is questionable.

"I believe that from the NGO's side we don't really view it with any urgency. But if the government feels it is necessary then I think it could be discussed," Firman said.

He argued that many of the valid and reputable groups he knows truly work to help the government in combating various social problems, such as alleviating poverty.

He noted that what is important for the future is for the government to realize that NGOs are its partners. (mds)