Indonesian NGOs Knocked
Indonesia Publications/Task Force
Forwarded for Nancy Lutz (nl...@igc.org):
Source: Far Eastern Economic Review Date: 14 May 1992
Story Type: News/Analysis Original Language: English
Dateline: Jakarta Byline: Adam Schwarz
Text: Full
NGO'S KNOCKED
Indonesia has told non-governmental organizations (NG0) and other
private bodies that they may no longer receive financial
assistance from the Netherlands. Some of the larger NGO's have
denounced the move as an attempt to stifle public criticism of
government policies.
Home Affairs Minister Rudini on 25 April said professional
associations, legal aid institutes, social organizations and
consumer agencies were obliged to reject any aid from the
Netherlands, even if the assistance was channelled through Dutch
NGO's.
The move comes one month after Jakarta rejected all official
assistance from The Hague after complaining that its former
colonial ruler was infringing upon Indonesian sovereignty by
attaching political conditions to its aid.
Also in late March Indonesia disbanded the Inter-Governmental
Group of Indonesia (IGGI), a 14-member donor consortium which
last year provided Indonesia with U.S. $4.8 billion in grants and
cheap loans. The Netherlands, which chaired IGGI, supplied 1.9%
of the total. The World Bank has formed a new donors' group for
Indonesia in which the Netherlands will not be a member.
The decision to end official assistance from the Netherlands was
warmly applauded in Indonesia, both in and out of government.
Many Indonesians objected to what they termed the patronizing
attitude of the Dutch, and especially that of Dutch Development
Minister Jan Pronk. The ban on Dutch aid to NGO's has been much
more coolly received.
"No one here is against teaching 'inspector general' Jan Pronk a
lesson for trampling on our sovereignty. But not all foreign
assistance is bad. [We must] realize that grudges against Jan
Pronk [do] not mean we have to have grudges on other issues,
especially those that are in our favor," the Indonesian Observer
editorialized on 1 May.
Some of the more vocal Indonesian NGO's, notably the Legal Aid
Insitute (LBH) or the Institute for the Defense of Human Rights
(LPHAM), have been thorns in the side of the government for many
years. "NGO's are the only remaining opposition voices in
Indonesia," one Indonesian analyst said.
The ending of Dutch aid to these groups will have a devastating
effect on their ability to operate, NGO workers say. LBH and
LPHAM, for example, depend on Dutch NGO assistance for more than
80% of their funding. Total Dutch NGO aid to Indonesian NGO's is
estimated at some U.S. $15 million annually.
"According to the constitution, the government has no right to
interfere in private organizations," said H.J.C. Princen, a
veteran human-rights campaigner and founder of LPHAM.
How rigorously Indonesia will enforce the ban on Dutch aid to
NGO's is open to debate. On 29 April, Coordinating Minister for
Poltical Affairs and Security Sudomo, who is senior to Rudini,
said NGO's could continue receiving aid from the Netherlands
provided they reported the source of their funding to the
government.
But on 1 May Rudini reaffirmed his opposition. "I insist on the
ban...We will take action against those who are found receiving
[Dutch aid]," Rudini was quoted by the official news agency
Antara.
The Indonesian Government, however, is keen not to sever all ties
with the Netherlands. Officials from both sides say the emphasis
for the future will be on commerical and business activities. The
Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade Yvonne van Rooy was received by
President Suharto on 2 May, while Foreign Minister Ali Alatas
appeared at a reception at the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta on 30
April.
Some analysts believe the banning of Dutch aid to NGO's is part
of a broader crackdown on public debate. Several government
officials are clearly worried that some Indonesian groups are
being influenced by Western political values, especially
regarding human rights and democracy. "We must rectify ways of
thinking that are based too heavily on foreign values," Antara
quoted Armed Forces Commander Gen. Try Sutrisno as saying on
10 April.
Edmund Chia
>
>
>
> Forwarded for Nancy Lutz (nl...@igc.org):
>
> Source: Far Eastern Economic Review Date: 14 May 1992
> Story Type: News/Analysis Original Language: English
> Dateline: Jakarta Byline: Adam Schwarz
> Text: Full
>
> NGO'S KNOCKED
> Some of the more vocal Indonesian NGO's, notably the Legal Aid
> Insitute (LBH) or the Institute for the Defense of Human Rights
> (LPHAM), have been thorns in the side of the government for many
> years. "NGO's are the only remaining opposition voices in
> Indonesia," one Indonesian analyst said.
> The ending of Dutch aid to these groups will have a devastating
> effect on their ability to operate, NGO workers say. LBH and
> LPHAM, for example, depend on Dutch NGO assistance for more than
> 80% of their funding. Total Dutch NGO aid to Indonesian NGO's is
> estimated at some U.S. $15 million annually.
Are you implying that NGOs function as a source of opposition to the
Indonesian government and its policies - the Netherlands funds NGOs
for this purpose - and thus the Netherlands uses NGOs to participate
covertly in Indonesian domestic politics - presumably by selective
allocation of funds in accordance with its own political agenda?
Please clarify.
Edmund
Indonesia Publications/Task Force
Edmund, the article posted was by Adam Schwarz, who isn't online
to explain himself, but perhaps this will help clarify.
Most Indonesian NGOs function _in line_ with Indonesian government
policies, but a fraction take a de facto oppositionist view.
However, both types of NGOs -- among those getting Dutch aid
rather than from somewhere else -- stress that the aims of the
Dutch aid were in line with their own organizational priorities
and that the relationship was not one of superordination and
subordination. Foreign governments usually provide aid on the
basis of their own agendas -- whether these be political,
economic, environmental, cultural, or whatever. Host governments
best avoid manipulation when they accept such aid when _their_
agendas coincide with those of foreign donors. Autonomous NGOs in
Indonesia work broadly on the same principle.
John A. MacDougall