Military tells NGOs to be more active

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Wiranto urged activists of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Saturday to continue improving their roles as mediators between the government and people's interests.

Improvement is needed to enable the NGOs to help solve any problems arising in the community, to correct any deviation in the community and to facilitate community education, Wiranto said in his keynote speech at a seminar on NGOs' Roles in Improving the Community's Social and Political Role in National Development.

The one-day seminar, which was sponsored by a number of NGOs, was held at the YTKI building in South Jakarta and was attended by about 100 participants.

"It is completely groundless and too naive to consider the NGOs opponents of the government, as troublemakers in the implementation of government policies," Wiranto said

He said that this perception is completely wrong but it could turn out to be correct if the NGOs themselves fail to choose the right direction or overplay their roles.

"I myself do not know why, where or when this perception arose. But it is our duty to abolish this wrong perception," he said, urging NGOs to actively participate in changing their unfavorable image through positive activities.

Wiranto reiterated that the Jakarta Military Command is an integral part of the political superstructure, as well as the upholder of national stability in the capital city and it is determined to help promote the positive development of NGOs.

"In this context there should be openness in every activity conducted by NGOs to avoid miscommunication and misperception," he said.

The commander also urged NGO activists to honor and appreciate the "rule of the game" which is contained in the national ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. "In any community, there is always rules of the game."

Meanwhile, political scholar Burhan Magenda, one of the speakers at the seminar, said NGOs have played an important role as agents of change and people's advocates.

"Political organizations are less responsive to the victims of development than NGOs because political organizations have vested interests," he said.

He explained that NGO programs are often more effective than those of political organizations since NGOs have simple structures and have adequate funds which are supplied by foreign donors. The NGOs are also more professional in applying practical programs, he said.

Because of their role in advocating development victims, NGOs seem like government opponents, he said.

But Burhan urged the government not to scare or distrust NGOs since they have proved that play an important role in increasing people's participation in national development.

"NGOs can do jobs which are neglected by the government and political organizations," he pointed out.(29)