[ppi] [ppiindia] (Opinion-Jkt Post, June 1, 2004) THE RETURN OF THE OLD NEW ORDER MEASURES?

** Mailing List|Milis Nasional Indonesia PPI-India **
The Jakarta Post, June 1, 2004



THE RETURN OF THE OLD NEW ORDER MEASURES?



Christine Susanna Tjhin, Jakarta

The writer is a researcher at the department of politics and social change,
the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)



While all five presidential candidates vehemently flaunt their commitment to
upholding human rights and democratization, some members of the House of
Representatives and security authorities seem to be throwing spikes down
onto the path of civil society toward democratic consolidation, preparing
for an ambush.



On May 26, after a meeting with House Commission I, National Intelligence
Agency (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono announced the agency was probing into
an earlier report concerning the activities of 20 local and foreign
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).



These NGOs have allegedly produced reports that could instigate national
security concerns during the presidential election. Further investigation to
compile more incriminating evidence is also said to be underway.



The government took a rather defensive position in response to the NGOs'
reports and claimed a right to take measures against those who threatened
national interests, which probably includes expelling foreign workers from
the country.



One House member was quoted as saying: "The activities of those NGOs are
harmless, really, but still quite irritating. If we let them be, it would
accumulate." Other House members even encouraged security authorities to
prevent and arrest, if necessary, NGO activists who threaten security.
Foreign ministry officials and the interim coordinator for political and
security affairs also voiced a similar defense.



What is with these unnerving comments on NGO activities? But wait -- more
demoralizing comments coming through.



BIN'S warning that the government could use "old measures" to deal with this
issue, referring to the use of violence to clamp down on government critics
under the past New Order regime of Soeharto (The Jakarta Post, May 28), sent
a chill of deja vu down the spines of the already fragile Indonesian civil
society and democracy.



This is a classic case of some authorities trying to make heroes of
themselves. They are creating a crisis, which is nonexistent, between
government critics and the national interest.



Six years after the supposed collapse of the New Order regime, the fact that
such jaw-dropping statements are able to be made again should raise the
alert among civil society. Already, some key figures of civil society have
challenged the existence of the NGOs' reports and have invited security
authorities to be open to dialog.



Yet the lack of clarity in regards any actual problems arising from these
earlier reports and the lack of goodwill on the part of the government to
share information have made it difficult for civil society to engage in a
constructive dialog with the government. Instead of providing clear charges
with credible proof, the debate condescended to an issue of national
interests juxtaposed with some foreign analysts' critical reports and/or
local analysts' sell-out reports.



The issue is not about the narrow version of security and a one-sided claim
for national interest, and goes beyond the extension of work permits for
some foreign analysts: This is a matter of constructive engagement between
state and society in providing each other with check-and-balances
measures -- everybody's homework that is far from done.



Hostility is something that both government and "uncivil" society are
capable of meting out to each other, whenever they choose. But what point
could hostility serve other than zilch?



A need for constructive engagement between civil society and the government
has never been as pressing.



After the progress achieved through the legalization of the act of
legislative procedures, which gives the public an actual right to
participation in lawmaking, we must not allow state-civil society
constructive engagement take one (or more) step back.



Democratization is fostered through freedom of speech and the right to
opinion without interference. Reports, be they those made by local or
foreign institutions, must be placed and seen under the context of
check-and-balances, not of power relations.



Criticisms against the government are meant to push it toward constructive
solutions, not to topple it, and if they are if responded to with
intelligence, would improve the quality of the concerned government.
Responded to poorly, however, nothing will be gained.



Reports from NGOs are imperative in stimulating critical discourse, not
simply over the government's poor performance, but also that of "uncivil"
society. An unnecessary defensive attitude by the government will not only
tarnish its own substandard reputation, but will also ensue in a backlash
upon the progress of democratization.



Will the government again sweep this issue under the carpet until the
presidential election is over, so that they do not have to risk tarnishing
their image? By the way, have any of the presidential candidates raised this
issue and responded accordingly?




Well, never mind, we all know that their comments would be unlikely to rise
above the rhetorical. Or would they? Supposedly, only the candidates can
answer that.



Competent reports from NGOs are like golden eggs, and can bring benefits to
the government and especially -- since the timing is appropriate -- all
presidential candidates in formulating sound policies for the country.



Pathetically, instead of making use of available resources, the government
is threatening to cut the goose's throat because it is honking too loud.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/BRUplB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

***************************************************************************
Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg 
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.arsip.da.ru
***************************************************************************
__________________________________________________________________________
Mohon Perhatian:

1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik)
2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari.
3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 
4. Posting: ppiindia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
5. Satu email perhari: ppiindia-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
6. No-email/web only: ppiindia-nomail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
7. kembali menerima email: ppiindia-normal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     ppiindia-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bagi Anda yang ingin berdiskusi tentang apa saja dg akrab, santai tapi serius 
dan penuh persahabatan dg seluruh masyarakat/mahasiswa Indonesia di luar negeri 
serta tokoh-tokoh intelektual dan pejabat Tanah Air, silahkan bergabung dg 
milis ppiindia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Kirim email kosong ke: 
ppiindia-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx atau kunjungi 
www.geocities.com/arsip_nasional/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other related posts: