Govt warned against subverting democracy

Govt warned against subverting democracy

Sari Setiogi and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

A group of well-known national figures criticized the government
for intimidating and terrorizing non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and individuals campaigning for human rights and
democracy.

The figures said they felt constrained to defend civil
society, and that the government and its agencies were emulating
the New Order by intimidating or terrorizing groups or people
whom the government claimed were involved in undermining national
security.

"Strengthening the spirit of democracy, promoting
transparency, and upholding human rights and freedom of
expression are things that make us proud to be Indonesians. We
should not allow these to be derailed," Muslim scholar Nurcholish
Madjid said while reading from a joint statement.

Separately, political analysts said the plan to crack down on
the NGOs may hurt President Megawati Soekarnoputri's chances of
winning the upcoming election.

Also signing the statement were lawyers Nono Anwar Makarim and
Todung Mulya Lubis, Muslim scholar Ulil Abshar Abdallah, senior
journalist Goenawan Mohamad and Tempo news magazine's chief
editor Bambang Harymurti.

They further called on the government, legislators and law
enforcers to adhere to the goals of reform.

The joint statement was issued in response to the government's
threats against a number of NGOs accused of selling out the
country through their reports, which the government claims
discredit it. Among the NGOs were the well-respected
International Crisis Group (ICG).

Todung, who is also a director of the Brussels-based ICG, said
he met National Intelligence Agency (BIN) director A.M.
Hendropriyono earlier in the day to ask for clarifications
regarding the intelligence agency's avowed intention to block the
extension of the work permit of the ICG's director in Indonesia,
Sidney Jones, which expires on July 10.

Todung says he also asked the intelligence chief about the 20
NGOs said to be on BIN's watch list, but the country's top spook
refused to identify them.

Regarding the ICG case, Todung said Hendropriyono had implied
that two of its reports, one on Aceh and one on Papua, had
sparked the government's ire.

Nono said BIN's refusal to identify the NGOs that were being
spied on was in itself a form of state terror and intimidation.

On Saturday political analyst Kusnanto Anggoro of the Centre
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said the move
against NGOs critical of government policies had effectively
changed people's perception about incumbent Megawati, who is
seeking a full five-year mandate.

"Megawati had long lost her image as a strong leader, now her
image as a democratic figure and human rights proponent has also
gone," Kusnanto told The Jakarta Post.

Another CSIS analyst, Eddy Prasetyantono, questioned
Hendropriyono's motive in leaking intelligence reports to the
press, saying that the agency was only in charge of gathering,
analyzing, and sending reports to the president.

"What has happened is a wrong political process.... and it
ruined Megawati's image both here and abroad," Eddy said.