Examine foreign NGOs

Examine foreign NGOs

From Koran Tempo

There has been some discussion on the possibility of examining
foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and this would seem
quite natural indeed.

Many foreign NGOs work in this country and some of them opt to
work in conflict-ridden areas like in Aceh, Papua, Maluku and
Poso to provide humanitarian aid to the victims in such places.

However, we must be alert over the presence of these foreign
NGOs in conflict-ridden areas as some of them have been accused
of supporting separatism in Indonesia.

We have reports that Australia supports the integrity of the
Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia by carrying out,
through the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), auditing of
Australian NGOs operating in Indonesia. This is a good policy to
ensure that only responsible Australian NGOs work in Indonesia.

As a resident of a conflict-ridden region -- Papua -- let me
call on other countries like the USA, Great Britain, Belgium,
Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal, to imitate Australia in
the case of their NGOs operating in Indonesia.

A lot of people claim that some foreign NGOs in Indonesia,
particularly those operating in Papua, seem to support the
separatist movement.

Finally, the government must consider issuing yet another new
law on foreign NGOs and conduct an audit of their activities so
that their work will be transparent and accountable.

AGUSTINUS MALLE
Sorong, Papua