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)