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)

Bappenas -- Page 3