Local NGOs pledge to work together on political education

JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of non-governmental organizations named on Thursday a priority to work together for political education of the public amid the recent turmoil of political upheaval and the economic crisis.

"The three decades of oppression have made us ill-prepared to press changes for a true democratic society. Suddenly, we face so many complex issues," said lawyer Abdul Hakim Garuda of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam).

He was addressing the opening of the two-day International Consultation Supporting Democracy in Indonesia, a meeting organized by NGOs including Elsam, the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (Infid) and the Kalyanamitra women's organization.

For the task, he said NGOs would "have to focus their efforts on limiting the power of the state, and advocating the division of power which will allow checks and balances".

Speakers talked of raising public political awareness as opposed to the New Order's "depoliticization" through centralized power and the stranglehold on dissent.

Infid's executive secretary Binny Buchori said NGOs felt the need for a "common platform" after Soeharto stepped down from power in May, although working together was not new to them.

"There are new urgent issues to work together on such as political education, election monitoring, socializing democracy."

NGO representatives from several countries have been invited to share similar experiences in a period of transition.

Ita F. Nadia from Kalyanamitra cited earlier talks between local NGOs held from Oct. 18 to Oct 20. Among results, she said, was the assertion that NGOs would advocate an end to the military's dual function -- considered a main obstacle to democratization -- and help in voter education.

Although the Independent Committee for Election Monitoring (KIPP) which helped monitor last year's elections would watch over the 1999 general election, Binny said NGOs should help to educate the public on elections and its monitoring.

Regardless of pessimistic views on the upcoming election, she said the poll was a process in which the public should participate to ensure it would be free and fair.

Foreign speakers included Joel Rocamora for the Institute for Popular Democracy in the Philippines.

He said after Ferdinand Marcos was deposed in 1986, NGOs were immediately involved in dismantling institutions of authoritarianism, including ousting top military figures close to Marcos and building institutions of democracy.

"The homework of NGOs here", he said, would include the monitoring of the redistribution of assets, including through the Indonesian Debt Restructuring Agency (INDRA). Rocamora warned it was an important and complex political process. (anr)