Indonesia urged to respond effectively to people's needs
Indonesia urged to respond effectively to people's needs
JAKARTA (JP): A group of Indonesian and foreign non-
governmental organizations (NGO) has urged the government to pay
more attention to the needs of the people, saying the government
should not merely concern itself with the management of economic
development.
The International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID),
in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post yesterday, said
the principles of good government also include guaranteeing the
social, cultural, economic and political rights of people through
the allocation of resources by the state.
"In this, the Indonesian government is not responding
effectively to the needs and aspirations of its people. INFID
believes that the Indonesian government should implement
principles of good government equitably and unequivocally
throughout the country," the forum said.
The forum also believes that the dangers of social and
economic insecurity will be far greater for the Indonesian people
if a just and balanced relationship between the central
government and the regions is not achieved.
"INFID does not accept the argument that decentralization will
lead to a fragmentation of Indonesia," it said.
These points of view are the result of the ninth General
Assembly of NGOs, held from April 22 to 24 in affiliation with a
similar forum held in Paris. The assembly, in preview of the next
meeting of the Consultative Group for Indonesia (CGI) to be held
in Paris next June, primarily discussed the impact of government
and donor policies on the regions of Indonesia.
CGI is a World Bank-led consortium of creditors comprising the
industrialized nations and international financial institutions.
The forum said people living in the outer regions have become
poorer relative to the central region, especially Java.
Regarding the plan to construct a nuclear plant here, INFID
urged the government and donor governments to support a free and
open debate in order to ensure the safe and efficient use of
natural resources. The forum said the economic and environmental
costs of nuclear power are very high; thus, a thorough
investigation of alternative energy sources is necessary.
"Moreover, emphasizing locally appropriate sources of energy
will promote regional development and a more balanced allocation
of resources throughout Indonesia." it said.
"INFID strongly supports the recommendation that the Bank will
not finance projects involving large resettlement operations,
unless policies and legal frameworks are adopted apt to lead to
resettlement with income restoration," said the forum.
Regarding the recent workers' riots in Medan, North Sumatra,
which claimed one life, INFID said they exemplify the problems of
the labor movement in Indonesian in general, and, in particular,
the restrictions on the right to organize and the dangers of the
security approach to labor unrest. (par)