NGOs form pressure group

NGOs form pressure group

JAKARTA (JP): Activists formed another pressure group
yesterday, demanding that the government lower prices, uproot
corruption and overhaul the political system.

Established by labor activists, human rights campaigners,
lawyers, political activists, journalists and women's rights
activists, the new group is called the Indonesian People's
Council (Majelis Rakyat Indonesia, or Mari).

The activists come from 25 non-governmental organizations
well-known for their critical stand against government
organizations such as Aldera, the Indonesian Prosperous Labor
Union (SBSI) and the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute.

SBSI chief Muchtar Pakpahan, criminologist Mulyana W. Kusumah,
human rights campaigner H.J.C. Princen and lawyer Bambang
Widjojanto are on the list of the 26-member steering committee.

Politician Ridwan Saidi of the Moslem-based new Masyumi and
Djathi Koesoemo, a legislator from the rift-ridden Indonesian
Democratic Party, were listed on the nine-member Executive board.

Ridwan Saidi said the organization was formed out of concern
about what he sees as widespread corruption and abuse of power in
the government.

"Monopolistic and oligopolistic practices have spurned social
injustices and unequal distribution of development gains," he
said.

Mari demanded that the government move to bring down prices,
uproot corruption, bring the "nation's traitors" to justice and
amend the five political laws to allow democracy. (16)