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.