NGOs fail to absorb basic issues at grass roots
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Representatives of more than 200 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) began a three-day national conference here on Monday to discuss their roles in society and address concerns that NGOs have failed to adapt to changes during the reform era.
A panelist at the meeting, Asmara Nababan from Demos, an organization dealing with democracy and human rights, said NGOs had failed to absorb the basic issues at the grassroots level during the democratization era.
He also said NGO activists had failed to educate people about civil rights, including political rights, leaving politicians to take charge of the issue. He said the result of this was to turn the reform era into a "pseudodemocracy".
Activists regard themselves as "charismatic figures", and are not concerned whether their actions represent the best interests and wishes of the people, Asmara said.
"None of us can claim that the reform era has created a pure democracy that puts people's sovereignty above all else. What we are facing now is the abuse of democracy itself by the political elite," Asmara said.
He was referring to various government bodies that were formed by post-New Order administrations, such as the anticorruption commission that replaced the KPKPN last year, which was authorized to examine state officials' wealth, and the National Law Commission.
None of these commissions have benefited the people due to their lack of effective roles, Asmara said.
He added that many NGO activists did not understand their main role of educating the public about crucial sociopolitical issues.
During the New Order regime of Soeharto, who ruled the country for 32 years until his downfall in 1998, NGOs played an effective role in campaigning for freedom of expression and other basic rights for the nation.
During the New Order, antimilitarism and human rights, as well as democracy, became salable and prominent issues for Indonesian NGOs.
Following Soeharto's resignation, such issues were no longer as relevant for non-governmental organizations due to the emergence of democracy in the country.
Monday's meeting was attended by more than 200 NGOs from 28 provinces. The organizations are concerned with a variety of issues, including democracy, human rights, press freedom, the environment and law enforcement.
Among the organizations attending the meeting are the Commission for Victims of Violence and Missing Persons, the Legal Aid Foundation, Impartial, leading environmental group Walhi and the Alliance of Independent Journalists.
During the conference, participants will share their views and experiences before concluding the gathering on Wednesday with recommendations on new strategies and platforms of action.
Another speaker on Monday, sociologist Thamrin Amal Tamagola of the University of Indonesia, said NGO activists should not be reluctant to become involved in practical politics to promote better administrations at the local and national levels.
"The ongoing presidential election provides the nation with only two candidates, who cannot be separated from the old regimes," he said.
Incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who last week won the support of three major parties, two of which were linked to the New Order regime -- the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP) -- is contesting the September runoff against Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has a military background.
"Looking at the two candidates, where will we go with our democracy?" Thamrin asked.