Military tells NGOs to be more active
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)