Monitoring of NGOs should be eased: Emil

Monitoring of NGOs should be eased: Emil

JAKARTA (JP): A former state minister has advised the city
administration to ease up on its mistrust of Non-Governmental
Organizations and, instead, embrace them as partners in
development.

The suggestion came on Wednesday from Emil Salim, the former
minister of environment and population. Emil is well-known for
long having a close relationship with NGO activists, even while
he was minister.

"The security approach to NGOs should be phased out," he said
after a seminar on the NGOs' role in development at City Hall.

The workshop, which also featured Adi Sasono of the
Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), was
organized by the city administration.

Emil, who is active in several NGOs himself, suggested that
non-governmental organizations and the administration should meet
more often to narrow any differences and explore areas where they
can cooperate.

NGO activists have often complained that the government treats
them with suspicion because of their criticism of government
policies.

"NGOs are components of innovation and it would be a big
mistake to treat them like opponents," he argued.

He recalled a time when NGOs helped him socialize the law on
environment passed in 1982, when he still held his ministerial
post. He found the NGOs' help "very useful", especially because
his office was understaffed.

The government, Emil said, should be able to motivate NGOs to
take part in development process.(32)