NGOs fail to absorb basic issues at grass roots

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.