People fear joining NGOs

JAKARTA (JP): Apart from restrictions on the right to assemble, many people also fear joining associations the government doesn't recognize. But worse is the fear of not joining certain organizations, like government-sponsored unions.

In 1992 lawyer and labor activist Muchtar Pakpahan with about 100 laborers from 18 provinces founded Serikat Buruh Sejahtera Indonesia (Indonesian Prosperous Workers Union -- SBSI), as a reaction against the government sanctioned All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) which SBSI claimed couldn't defend and help its members and their interests.

SBSI, which is managed by the workers, would work only for the interests of laborers, said Pakpahan at the time. The fact that the workers themselves managed the organization proves it is a workers' union for workers and from workers, he argued.

"It is different from SPSI, which is handled by the government," Pakpahan was quoted by the banned Tempo weekly in 1992.

The union has been recognized by the International Labor Organization and accepted as a member by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. At home, the government has not recognized it and advises laborers to join the sanctioned SPSI.

Indonesian civil servants are automatically considered members of the Civil Servants Corps (Korpri) which began in 1971. There is no written requirement but it is taken for granted that all civil servants and those working for government-owned bodies are members of the organization. The employees of the National Logistics Agency, for example, are required to join the corps even though the agency is categorized as a non-department institution.

Since Korpri is also a main backer of the ruling Golkar faction, there is an understanding that members must vote for Golkar.

"There is no regulation on the matter, but in every election we know how to vote," said a civil-servant who asked for anonymity. (als)