Minister warns of NGOs used for foreign interests
Minister warns of NGOs used for foreign interests
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Development Planning Ginandjar
Kartasasmita warned yesterday of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) working for foreign political interests under the guise of
social work.
Speaking about the increasingly important role NGOs play in
the materialization of people's aspirations for civil society,
Ginandjar said NGOs must be a source of empowerment for the
people and not a destructive element.
"Apart from the government guaranteeing these groups the
freedom to perform their functions, there must also be assurances
from the organizations that their actions are truly for the
people and not a guise for political activities. Especially
those connected with foreign interests," the minister said.
Ginandjar was lecturing on Power and Empowerment at the Ismail
Marzuki Arts Center in Central Jakarta yesterday. He was the
keynote speaker in a ceremony celebrating the center's 28th
anniversary.
Ginandjar noted the increasing popularity of the concept of an
independent civil society with minimum state intervention.
A growing civil society is marked by thriving interest groups
like non-governmental organizations, he said.
NGOs and other interest groups have begun to emerge in
Indonesia, Ginandjar said.
But he warned these groups could be exploited to serve
particular political interests.
"The aim of empowerment thus becomes ambiguous because it is
using its pressure for political interests which may not be the
aspirations of the people," he said.
Ginandjar did not give examples. The government recently
claimed 32 NGOs were a problem to the government, including the
now banned People's Democratic Party (PRD).
The government has accused the PRD of inciting the July 27
riots in Jakarta and of having communist leanings.
"Empowerment in the political field doesn't mean radicalism or
efforts to overthrow the government," Ginandjar said.
"It is true that we still need clear rules for the game so
that their activities strengthen people's capabilities without
making trouble," he said.
He said that even in other countries the concept of a civil
society had not yet crystallized and established into a solid
form.
Poverty
Ginandjar said empowering people was a way to alleviate
poverty.
He said as there are fewer people living below the poverty
line, the government needs to take more assertive measures since
the general practices applied in the past will become less and
less effective.
He said each member of society has potential to be developed.
Empowerment creates an enabling factor which allows this to
happen.
Ginandjar said an environment conducive to developing people's
potential was needed.
The minister said empowerment entailed a responsibility to
protect the weak. This should not translate into isolation or
discrimination, but rather toward the maintenance of a fair and
balanced competition between forces of equal strength. (mds)
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