Letter to the U.S. President
Mr. President,
We, members of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby convey our warm greetings to you, Mr. President, and hope that you will always be in a position to fulfill your tasks. We also hope that the future will see increasingly closer relations between the House and the U.S. Government.
We were extremely startled to hear that there are indications that the aid of the U.S. Government to a number of NGOs in Indonesia which was intended to improve the climate of democracy, the conservation of the environment and the stepping up of human rights protection in Indonesia, has, according to the International Herald Tribune and New York Times of May 21, 1998, in these past few years probably been used by a number of NGOs for activities which directly and indirectly have disturbed national stability. National stability is very much needed for the implementation of reforms in a peaceful and effective way.
It is certainly also known to the U.S. Government that there are indications that the funds given in aid by the U.S. Government to Indonesian NGOs since 1995 have probably been used for purposes other than what was initially intended. Apparently, however, the U.S. Government has not given adequate attention to that fact. It has even continued to provide funds amounting to US$26 million.
The above facts are the basis for us, Indonesian legislators, to state our stance as follows:
1. The Indonesian House of Representatives appreciates the U.S. Government's aid to Indonesian NGOs with the objective to improve the democratic climate, step up human rights protection and environmental conservation, and we hope that the aid to the NGOs can be expanded to programs that will be beneficial to the common people and that they will be conducted with strict supervision by the U.S. Government, so that the aid is not used for purposes that are not in accordance with the initial objectives.
2. National instability will hamper economic growth which will result in the obstruction of efforts to benefit the people and disturb stability in the Southeast Asian region.
3. National instability will not encourage the emergence of a better democratic climate nor the improvement of human rights protection. It may worsen the situation because society will live in anxiety and fear.
4. The Indonesian nation makes continuous efforts to improve its capacity in building a democratic system and in improving human rights protection and environmental conservation within the framework of the Indonesian national culture itself.
5. The Indonesian nation as a unitary state consisting of 27 provinces hopes that the U.S. Government, both directly and indirectly, will not endeavor to divide the Indonesian nation's unity, by making proposals or exerting pressure which are not in line with the spirit of unity of the Indonesian nation and people.
5. The Indonesian nation in its own way and in line with its culture will settle the various problems it is facing and appreciates the various forms of aid from friendly nations without disturbing the integrity and sovereignty of each country.
We hope that you, Mr. President, will assess the problems wisely in analyzing the situation of our country which is now in an economic and monetary crisis, and we appreciate the aid that has been given and which will be given to help Indonesia on the basis of mutual respect for each country's sovereignty and integrity.
Wrong steps would aggravate the Indonesian nation's economy and plunge the common people into suffering.
With best regards.
House of Representatives
Republic of Indonesia