KNPI striving to reform image at 8th congress

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI), the umbrella organization for dozens of government-sanctioned youth groups, will start its eighth congress today as its appeal is increasingly eclipsed by non-governmental organizations.

One of the most important tasks facing the organization is reforming its image among the young, KNPI executives said.

"We are striving to reform KNPI's image. We are launching changes that will improve the organization," chairman of the congress' steering committee Fachry Andi Laluasa told Antara here yesterday.

The organization is an umbrella for dozens of youth groups, including the Moslem Student Association (HMI), the Nationalist Student Movement (GMNI), the Christian Student Movement (GMKI) and the Catholic Student Association (PMKRI).

State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said last year many youth organizations have been losing the support of young Indonesians. Most were turning to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which have more clearly defined objectives, such as environmental protection and promotion of human rights.

Hayono blamed the youth organizations' inability to "respond to the challenges and demands of the times" and compared them unfavorably to the NGOs, which he said were more responsive to the needs of young people.

Fachry pointed out that KNPI wants to become "an umbrella organization for youths" rather than an umbrella organization for youth groups.

"Therefore, KNPI embraces all Indonesians over 17 and beyond," he explained.

A number of youth organizations under KNPI have recently complained of disillusionment with their leaders and threatened to pull out of the central committee.

The local chapters of the Indonesian Moslem Student Movement and the Moslem Students Association in Jombang, East Java, have announced they were abandoning the KNPI on grounds that the youth committee has lost its way. Similar complaints had been voiced by youth organizations in Yogyakarta, Palu in Central Sulawesi, and Semarang in West Java.

A number of analysts have criticized KNPI for being too dependent on Golkar, and specifically that it was being used to further the political ambitions of its leaders. Sociologist Arief Budiman from Salatiga in Central Java, as well as psychologist Darmanto Jatman and political scientist Novel Ali, both from Diponegoro University in Semarang, agreed yesterday that KNPI needs to assert its independence.

"KNPI has become nothing more than an accessory of youth organizations. Its vision and mission are not different to those of the government," Arief charged.

"KNPI should be more innovative and come up with breakthrough for youth problems like unemployment," he said.

"KNPI is a mama's boy," Darmanto Jatman said.

"The organization should distance itself from Golkar," Novel Ali suggested.

Leadership in KNPI have in the past served as a springboard for members to further their political career.

Fachry said the organization would simplify its structure by doing away with departments and branches at subdistrict levels.

Fachry also said that at least eight names have been circulating as possible successors to the incumbent, Tubagus Hayono. These are Adhyaksa, Ramli H.M. Yusuf, Djoko Purwo, Syaiful Anwar, Mujib Rachmat, Budianto, Gatot Sugito, and Kaharuddin Syah.

Representatives from the KNPI's 27 chapters, 45 youth organizations, the Indonesian Youths Council, youths delegation from Egypt and Malaysia and the Association of Indonesian Students in the United States (Permias), will participate in the congress. Vice President Try Soetrisno is scheduled to open the gathering. (imn/har)