Govt renews vow to closely watch NGOs

Govt renews vow to closely watch NGOs

JAKARTA (JP): The government has renewed its vow to keep a
close watch on local non-governmental organizations it has
branded "problematic."

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. told journalists
after attending a hearing session with the House of
Representatives' Commission II for foreign and domestic affairs
yesterday that the surveillance "will go on".

Yogie said measures would be taken in accordance with 1985's
Law No. 8 on mass organizations, which gives the government power
to ban unrecognized NGOs.

Yogie was elaborating on his remarks earlier on the day that
the government would continue to closely monitor "problematic"
NGOs.

The law says, among other things, that the government will ban
an unrecognized NGO if it fails to heed its warnings twice. It
also says the government can directly ban NGOs after a
consultation with the court.

The government said last year there were at least 31
recalcitrant NGOs, which allegedly campaigned to undermine the
state ideology Pancasila. The government did not identify the
NGOs but said it was preparing to take strong action against
them.

The statement came on the heels of a crackdown on some NGOs
for involvement in several riots. Human rights campaigners
criticized the statement and said it could create unrest among
NGOs because the government never identified the problematic
organizations.

Late last September, the government banned an NGO called the
Democratic People's Party, known locally as PRD, several months
after jailing their leaders for between one-and-a-half-years and
13 years.

During yesterday's hearing, Yogie also told the House that his
ministry had put on hold Rp 11,265,264,000 (US$3 million), or
21.18 percent of its total 1997/1998 planned spending, due to the
recent economic crisis.

Yogie said programs which had been rescheduled included funds
for the ministry's official tours, meetings and studies. (aan)