Crackdown on NGOs arbitrary: Activists

Crackdown on NGOs arbitrary: Activists

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta

Rights activists warned on Thursday against cracking down on non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) that were critical of
government policies, as the move would tarnish the country's
fragile democracy.

"The move against activists is baseless. We're living in a
reform era; if the government considers their reports
threatening, it should discuss the issues with the activists,"
Todung Mulya Lubis told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Todung, a noted rights activist and lawyer, said suggestions
that the NGOs' reports would threaten national security during
the July 5 presidential election were naive.

"No country, including Indonesia, is able to hide information
in the world today, when communication technology has developed
very rapidly," he said, adding that any crackdown against
activists would have international repercussions.

"There will be backlash from the international community, if
the government takes firm action against activists," he said.

Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Wednesday that
authorities were closely monitoring activists of 20 local and
foreign NGOs for issuing reports detrimental to national
security.

Da'i did not divulge the names of the NGOs, but National
Intelligence Agency (BIN) director Gen. (ret) Hendropriyono told
the House of Representatives on Wednesday that the Brussels-based
International Crisis Group (ICG) and the Institute for Policy
Research and Advocacy (Elsam) were on the watch list.

ICG Indonesia director Sidney Jones said on Wednesday that
authorities had refused to extend the work permits of the ICG's
foreign staff, forcing the group to stop operating in the country
and virtually telling them to leave.

"The ICG is a reputable NGO founded by former world leaders.
Expelling its director from the country would confirm public
fears that the New Order regime is coming back," Todung said.

Arrests of activists and individuals critical of the
government were common during the 32 years of the Soeharto
administration, also known as the New Order.

Elsam chairman Ifdhal Kasim said on Thursday he had no idea
why the NGO was included on the watch list, as no government or
security officials had ever complained about its activities.

"We have never received complaints from anyone, including law
enforcers. Our reports are mostly about government policies on
human rights and legal reforms.

"Our criticisms are based on scientific analysis, because they
are intended for policymakers, not for the general public. We
have never violated any laws...," Ifdhal told the Post.

He said plans to crackdown on activists was intimidation
against civil society, which was a common practice during
Soeharto's leadership.

"This kind of intimidation is the old method applied by the
New Order against its opponents. It is unfortunate the culture is
still alive in the so-called democratic era," he said.

The ICG has released a number of reports on a variety of
issues, including the war in Aceh, religious conflict in Ambon
and Poso, Central Sulawesi, activities of regional terrorist
network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) in Indonesia and security reform.

Elsam has published reports on the East Timor and 1984 Tanjung
Priok massacre human rights tribunals, legal reform and
recommendations on the establishment of a truth and
reconciliation commission.