NGOs and their mandate

Space for civil society

July
29, 2014
Lankas National Secretariat
for Non Governmental
Organisations NGOs! issue"
a statement on 1 July,
re#orte"ly stating t$at% &'t
$as (een reveale" t$at
certain NGOs con"uct #ress
conferences, )orks$o#s,
trainings sic! for *ournalists an" "issemination of #ress releases, )$ic$ is
(eyon" t$eir man"ate+ ,e reiterate t$at all NGO s$oul" #revent from suc$
unaut$orise" activities )it$ imme"iate e-ect+ .$e ne)s#a#ers state t$at
t$is circular $as only (een issue" to NGOs registere" )it$ t$e National
Secretariat for NGOs+
.)o /uestions arise $ere+ ,$at is an NGO0 1o) is its man"ate "etermine"
an" (y )$om0 .$e commonly2acce#te" "e3nition of a NGO is t$at it is an
organisation t$at is neit$er a #art of t$e government nor a conventional for2
#ro3t (usiness+ 4sually set u# (y or"inary citi5ens, NGOs may (e fun"e" (y
governments, foun"ations, or (usinesses+ Some NGO avoi" formal fun"ing
altoget$er an" are run (y volunteers+
NGO are $ig$ly "iverse grou#s or organisations engage" in a )i"e range of
activities an" take "i-erent forms in "i-erent #arts of t$e )orl"+ Some may
$ave c$arita(le status, )$ile ot$ers may (e a##rove" for ta6 e6em#tion
(ase" on t$e acce#tance of t$eir social o(*ectives+ Ot$ers may (e fronts for
#olitical, religious or ot$er s#ecial interest grou#s+
't is acce#te" t$at NGO are "i7cult to "e3ne #recisely+ 8or "e3nition
#ur#oses, t$e most common factors focuse" u#on is on t$e organisations
&orientation an" &level of o#eration+ Orientation coves t$e ty#es of
activities it takes on+ 8or e6am#le $uman rig$ts, environmental
conservation or $uman "evelo#ment )ork+ Level of o#eration is taken to
mean t$e scale at )$ic$ an organisation )orks, suc$ as local, regional,
national or international+
'n 1949 )$en t$e 4nite" Nations Organi5ation 4NO! )as create", t$e 4N
(eing an inter2governmental organisation, #rovi"e" for certain a##rove",
s#ecialise" international non2state agencies or NGOs to (e a)ar"e"
o(server status at 4N assem(lies an" some of t$e 4Ns meetings+ .$e 4N
acce#tance of an NGO is, it s$oul" (e #rivate, not for #ro3t, in"e#en"ent
from governmental control, not criminal an" not a cover for an o##osition
#olitical #arty+
Lanka :oluntary Social Service Organisations
'n terms of Lanka :oluntary Social Service Organisations
;:SSO< =egistration an" Su#ervision! >ct No+ ?1 of 19@0,
it is enacte" t$at% &> :oluntary Social Service
Organisation means any organisation forme" (y a grou#
of #ersons on a voluntary (asis an" a! is of a non2
governmental nature, (! is "e#en"ent on #u(lic
contri(utions, c$arities, grants #aya(le (y t$e
government or "onations local or foreign, in carrying out
its functions, c! $aving its main o(*ectives, t$e #rovision
of suc$ relief an" services as are necessary for t$e
mentally2retar"e" or #$ysically2"isa(le", t$e #oor, t$e
sick, t$e or#$ans an" t$e "estitute, an" t$e #rovision of
relief to t$e nee"y in times of "isaster, an" inclu"es a
community $ostel+
.$e :SSO acts long title "escri(es t$e statute as one
#rovi"ing for t$e registration )it$ t$e government of
:SSO, to #rovi"e for t$eir ins#ection an" su#ervision, to
facilitate t$e coor"ination of t$e activities of suc$
organisations, to give governmental recognition to suc$ organisations )$ic$
are #ro#erly constitute", to enforce t$e accounta(ility of suc$ organisations
in res#ect of 3nancial an" #olicy management un"er t$e e6isting rules of
suc$ organisations+
'n Lanka )e $ave t$erefore a "e3nition of :SSO, as "e3ne" in t$e act,
)$ic$ are of a non2governmental nature+ .$is is t$e only "e3nition of a non2
governmental organisation foun" in any la) in Lanka+ >ll NGOs in Sri Lanka
ranging from t$e Aivil =ig$ts Bovement 19C1!, Organisation of Darents an"
8amily Bem(ers of t$e Eisa##eare" 19@9!, 1el#ing 1am(antota 2009! are
all :SSO+ Eoes t$e NGO Secretariat circular a##ly to :SSO as registere"
un"er t$e >ct0
.$e :SSO >ct creates an o7ce of =egistrar of :SSO+ 's t$is institution
"i-erent from t$e National Secretariat for NGO an" t$e EirectorF=egistrar,
)$o $as issue" t$e circular0 1o)ever, recent ne)s re#orte" t$at t$is
circular $as (een sent out to all NGOs (y t$e Eirector of t$e National
Secretariat for NGOs, )$ic$ $as state" t$at NGOs are acting (eyon" t$eir
man"ate (y engaging in certain unaut$orise" activities+
Aivil society organisations react
Aivil society organisations $ave reacte" to t$is circular )it$ anger+ .$e
Aentre for Gnvironment an" Nature Stu"ies states% &Sri Lanka is struggling
)it$ many #ro(lems, inclu"ing t$ose relate" to environment an" (io #iracy+
'nstea" of a""ressing t$ese issues, t$e Government is trying to take action
against t$e free"om of e6#ression+ .$is )ill lea" to more trou(les for all of
us+
La)yers for Eemocracy an" La)yers Aollective criticise" t$e circular as
(eing &a (latant violation an" a curtailing of t$e fun"amental rig$ts of
citi5ens+ .$e Lanka ,orking Journalists >ssociation sai" t$at t$e circular is
&a sinister move aime" at silencing an" stiHing alrea"y2#ersecute" voices of
"issent, an" a clear attack on t$e free"om of e6#ression+ 't $as calle" on
t$e Government to rescin" t$e (latantly un"emocratic an" unconstitutional
"ecree+
.$e Aentre for Dolicy >lternatives AD>! sai" t$at t$e circular )as a "irect
t$reat an" c$allenge to civil society an" to Lanka as a functioning
"emocracy+ .$e AD> )ent on to state% &.$e c$illing e-ect it inten"s on t$e
free"om of s#eec$ an" e6#ression an" on t$e free"om of association,
con3rms t$at t$is regime is eit$er un)illing or una(le to com#re$en" t$e
(asic re/uirements of "emocratic governance an" t$at it is aut$oritarian to
t$e core+ .$e move "is#laye" t$e aut$oritarian status of t$e Government
an" t$e near colla#se of t$e =ule of La)+ .$is is a serious (lo) to civil
society an" a ste# to)ar"s t$e militarisation of t$e min"s+ .$ere is no (asic
la) for t$is move an" is of an aut$oritarian nature+ .$e Government )as
sick an" sa" min"e" if it t$inks t$at even t$e mil" criticism against it $a" to
)it$ a regime c$ange+
'llegal (an
.$e Aivil Society Aollective ASA! $as "eclare" t$at t$e move to (an NGOs
from $ol"ing #ress conferences an" )orks$o#s )as illegal an" t$erefore
t$ey )oul" ignore t$e (an an" continue )it$ t$eir activities+ .$e ASA sai"
t$at it &strongly con"emns t$is "etrimental move+ .$is is a serious (lo) to
"emocracy in t$e country+ ,e as #art of civil society $ave t$e rig$t to t$e
free"om of s#eec$ an" association+ .$e Binistry $as gone (eyon" its
man"ate (y issuing t$is circular+ ,e $ave "eci"e" to ignore t$e (an as it is
illegal an" )ill carry out our #rograms as
usual+
't furt$er urge" t$e Eefence Binistry to
)it$"ra) t$e circular imme"iately an"
)arne" t$at legal action )oul" (e taken it
)as serious a(out im#lementing it+ 't )as
allege" t$at t$at t$e issue of t$is circular )as
not s#ontaneous (ut )as t$e result of a long2
#lanne"2out strategyI .o /uote% &.$e crusa"e
against NGOs an" Aivil Society Organisations
ASOs! (egan )it$ t$e (anning of t$e training
#rogram for *ournalists (y .rans#arency
'nternational .'SL!+ .$e Government is
misgui"e" in its t$inking t$at NGOs an" ASOs
are its enemies an" t$at t$ey are )orking for
t$e international community an" t$at NGO
are critics of t$e Government+ .$e ASA sai"
t$e Government )as attem#ting to "iminis$
t$e alternative t$e alternative o#inions (eing
e6#resse" an" t$ats )$y it $a" ma"e t$is
move+ ,e )ont sto# $ere+ ,e )ill continue
our )ork an" )e )ill $ol" a convention in t$e
near future to strengt$en civil society+
O(stacles to "emocracy
.$e former Dresi"ent of t$e 8e"eration of
4niversity .eac$ers >ssociations 84.>!
state" t$at t$is move $a" $el#e" NGOs an"
ASOs to raise t$eir voice a(out o(stacles to "emocracy in t$e country+ .$e
NGOs $ave (een raising t$eir voice on "emocratic issues in t$e country (ut
$a" not (een taken seriously (y t$e #eo#le+ Deo#le )ill no) realise t$at
t$ere are real issues+
.$e Bovement for >gainst >ll 8orms of Eiscrimination an" =acism state"
t$at t$e NGO community an" civil society )ere acting )it$in t$e frame)ork
of "emocracy+ .$ey state"% &,e $ave in no )ay e6cee"e" our man"ate+ ,e
)ork )it$in t$e man"ate of t$e 'nternational Aovenant on Aivil an" Dolitical
=ig$ts 'AAD=! an" t$e 'nternational Aovenant on Gconomic Social an"
Aultural =ig$ts 'AGSA=!+ Our vision is (ase" on t$e rig$ts of t$e #eo#le+ ,e
can $ol" ne)s conferences to e6#lain our o(*ectives+ .$ey )oul" continue
to )ork )it$in t$is man"ate an" t$e Aonstitution of t$e country as usual to
move a$ea"+
Governments &(iggest c$allenge
>nalysts #oint out t$at t$e Government of Lanka seems to see civil society
organisations as its (iggest c$allenge+ .$e Binistry of G6ternal >-airs $as
also issue" a statement claiming a legal (asis for t$e im#ugne" statement
(ase" on t$e :SSO >ct an", regulations an" circulars of t$e Dresi"ential
Secretariat+ Eirections $ave also re#orte"ly (een given to t$e G6ternal
>-airs Binistry to "raft la)s to monitor t$e fun"ing of foreign NGOs+ .$e
la)s )oul" (e "rafte" to monitor t$e entire #rocess, inclu"ing au"iting an"
accounta(ility, so t$at t$ese NGOs "o not act in manner inimical to t$e
State+
>nalysts furt$er #oint out t$at t$e Governments restriction of visas for ai"
)orkers $as a-ecte" t$e o#erations of several international NGOs )$ic$ are
re#orte"ly "o)nsi5ing t$eir sta- in Aolom(o+ 't is re#orte" t$at most of t$e
international NGOs a-ecte" are t$ose t$at are )orking on areas like
governance, #eace (uil"ing, conHict resolution an" #ost2)ar trauma
counselling+ =e#orte"ly Darliament $as (een tol" t$at t$e circular is not$ing
more t$an a mere a"visory noteJ
'n"ia
't may (e more t$an coinci"ence t$at )$ile t$ese events are taking #lace in
Lanka, in neig$(ouring 'n"ia too, t$ere are allegations of attem#ts to
mu55le civil society+ Soon after t$e Bo"i tsunami $it t$e 'n"ian #olitical
scene an" t$e KJD Government took o7ce, t$e 'n"ian Aentral Kureau of
'ntelligence AK'! su(mitte" a classi3e" "ocument to t$e Government
allege"ly i"entifying several foreign2fun"e" NGOs t$at are &negatively
im#acting economic "evelo#ment+
.$e re#ort, a fe) #ages of )$ic$ )ere leake", allege"ly states t$at a
signi3cant num(er of t$ese NGOs $ave (een o(serve" to (e using #eo#le2
centric #o#ulist issues to create an environment )$ic$ len"s itself to
stalling Government #ro*ects+ >gitation against nuclear #lants at
Lu"ankulam in .amil Na"u, uranium mines, an" coal23re" #o)er #lants,
genetically2mo"i3e" organisms, mega in"ustrial #ro*ects, $y"rel #ro*ects
an" e6tractive in"ustries at localities in >runac$al Dra"es$, an" Nort$ Gast
'n"ia among ot$ers+
.$e AK' allege" t$at &t$ese foreign "onors lea" local NGOs to #rovi"e 3el"
re#orts )$ic$ are use" to (uil" a recor" against 'n"ia an" serve as tools for
t$e strategic foreign #olicy interests of ,estern governments, )$ile
re#ute" international NGOs suc$ as Green Deace $ave ru((is$e" t$e re#ort,
saying t$at t$e intent of t$eir cam#aigns $ave "eli(erately (een
misun"erstoo" an" t$at t$is is a conscious attem#t to crus$ an" stiHe
o##osing voices in civil society+
Several ot$er NGOs $ave voice" t$eir concerns a(out t$e intention of t$e
Government of 'n"ia in t$is conte6t+ .$e NGO community in 'n"ia is very
strong, an" $as use" t$e =ig$t to 'nformation La) to control t$e a(use of
#o)er an" corru#tion+ .$e AK' re#ort, in t$is conte6t is an a(erration+
Eeteriorating "emocratic environment
.$e 'nternational Arisis Grou#, an NGO )orking to #revent conHict
)orl")i"e, states t$at t$e Sri Lankan Governments most2recent "irective
to gag NGOs in"icates a "eteriorating "emocratic environment+ .$e
Government, it alleges, $as for years (een $ostile to NGOs, (ot$ local an"
international an" $ave #lace" o(stacles an" restrictions on t$eir )ork in
various )ays+
Government sources claim t$at many NGOs are )orking, eit$er o#enly or
covertly, against t$e interests of t$e Sri Lanka Government+ 'n reality it
seems t$at Government o7cials are un$a##y at t$e #u(lic criticism t$ey
receive from t$e NGO community+ 'n )$at is terme" as an increasingly2
aut$oritarian #olitical conte6t, )$ere t$e me"ia is largely controlle" (y t$e
Government, NGOs remain one of t$e fe) sources of in"e#en"ent
information an" #olitical criticism of Government #olicies+
.$e 1 July #ro$i(ition of NGOs $ol"ing #ress conferences an" )orks$o#s
&outsi"e t$eir man"ate a##ears to some analysts as a reaction to #u(lic
criticism (y some NGOs an" civil society activists at t$e Governments
allege" su##ort for ra"ical su#remacist grou#s an" t$e Governments
ina(ility to #revent violence allege"ly instigate" (y t$em an" t$e ina(ility
to take any cul#rits into custo"y+
1o) is t$e "irective to (e im#lemente"0 Legally it seems (ereft of any legal
or a"ministrative (asis+ .$e man"ate of an NGO is to (e foun" in t$e legal
"ocument )$ic$ creates it+ > "ee" for a trust, articles an" memoran"um of
association of a com#any, a "ee" of #artners$i#, constitution or )$atever+
Suc$ a "ocument )ill lay out in "etail t$e aims an" o(*ectives of t$e
organisation+ .$e /uestion )$et$er any NGO $as acte" )it$in outsi"e t$is
man"ate, in $ol"ing #ress conferences or &trainings sic! or )$atever, is a
matter of #roof, (efore a *u"icial tri(unal follo)ing t$e la)s of evi"ence+
.$e #o)ers an" functions of t$e NGO as lai" "o)n in its (asic "ocument
$ave to (e legally inter#rete"+
>ut$oritarian a##roac$
Generally aut$oritarian governments aroun" t$e )orl" are )ary of #rivate,
non2government, in"e#en"ent organisations, set u# (y volunteers+
>ut$oritarianism is a min"set )$ic$ is sus#icious of any forces, of )$atever
nature, outsi"e its control, )$ic$ t$e aut$ority cannot control an" )$ose
(e$aviour it cannot #re"ict+ Kut from t$e mists of time $istorically,
likemin"e" #eo#le $ave (een voluntarily getting toget$er to (ecause t$ey
(elieve in some #$iloso#$y or #rinci#le to carry for)ar" t$eir (eliefs+ 8ait$
an" religious grou#s are t$e #rime e6am#le+
'n Sri Lanka, Eayaka Sa($as, or its e/uivalent (y )$atever name, e6ist
aroun" eac$ an" every Ku""$ist tem#le an" institutions of ot$er fait$s,
c$urc$es, mos/ues an" 1in"u tem#les+ Similarly, t$e u(i/uitous "eat$ ai"
societies Barana >"$ara Samit$i! an" =otating Savings an" Are"it
>ssociations =OSA>s M c$eetus!+ .$ere is no )ay a government, $o)ever
aut$oritarian, can even $o#e to control an" manage eac$ an" every one of
suc$ organisations+
>ut$oritarian states suc$ as 'ran, =ussia, Au(a an" t$e Deo#les =e#u(lic of
A$ina $ave softene" t$eir stan" against organisations not su(servient to
t$e government+ 'n"ee" some very interesting e6am#les of $o) an
out)ar"ly2aut$oritarian a"ministration is com#elle" to a"*ust in t$e face of
reality $as emanate" from A$ina+
A$ina
'n 200@ A$ina (roug$t into o#eration an &O#en Government 'nformation
OG'! sc$eme+ .$is on #a#er at least (roug$t a(out a #rofoun" c$ange on
$o) t$e $it$erto aut$oritarian government of A$ina $an"les some kin"s of
information+ > culture of e6treme secrecy $a" for "eca"es (een t$e
mainstay of t$e Aommunist #artys aut$oritarian state+ Kut t$e A$inese
#ragmatic lea"ers $ave realise" t$at in t$is mo"ern era of instant
communication )it$ te6t messages an" .)itter, a(solute o#acity can cause
"iscontent an" t$reaten sta(ility of t$e Aommunist regime+
8or e6am#le, t$e A$inese Governments failure to "isclose information
a(out t$e s#rea" of t$e S>>=S res#iratory "isease in 200? $urt its
cre"i(ility an" stan"ing (ot$ "omestically an" a(oar"+ >s t$e A$inese State
me"ia #ut it at t$at time, a Government o#erating in t$e &suns$ine coul"
regain citi5ens trust an" t$e Aommunist Darty $o#e" )oul" re"uce an"
ease tensions+
.$e OG' is in no )ay com#ara(le to t$e =ig$t to 'nformation La)s )$ic$ are
foun" in "emocracies, suc$ as 'n"ia, for e6am#le )$ic$ $as resulte" in NGO
an" civic2min"e" in"ivi"uals "riving a #rover(ial $er" of ram#aging
ele#$ants t$roug$ t$e mac$inations of corru#t #oliticians, (ureaucrats an"
crony ca#italism+ Kut t$e A$inese Aommunist Darty $as #ro(a(ly seen t$e
)riting on t$e )all, an" "eci"e" t$at a little (it of o#ening u# coul" not (e
avoi"e"+
'n 2012 t$e >ll A$ina Gnvironment 8e"eration, an NGO, took t$e
Gnvironment Drotection Kureau of Gui5$ou Drovince to court for $aving
t)ice faile" to ans)er an OG' on a "airy farm )$ic$ )as "isc$arging )aste
an" #olluting t$e neig$(our$oo"+ .$e court or"ere" t$e release of t$e
information )it$in 10 "ays+ Suc$ rulings against government "e#artments,
once un$ear" of, are no) (ecoming common+
=esearc$ $as s$o)n t$at in 2010 t$e c$ances of a citi5en )inning an OG'2
relate" la) suit in Kei*ing )as a mere 9N, (ut in 2012 t$e courts rule" )it$
t$e citi5ens against t$e Government in 12N of t$e cases+ 1istory is (eing
ma"eJ On 1 >#ril t$is year, t$e State Aouncil, A$inas Aa(inet of Binisters,
issue" ne) gui"elines, re/uiring t$at o7cials #ay more attention to
"isclosing information+
8rom A$ina is also an e6am#le of colla(oration )it$ an NGO, calle"
'nclu"e", )$ic$ t$e Government of A$ina $as acce#te" as "oing useful
)ork+ 'nclu"e" $as Government su##ort for four community su##ort centres
it runs for migrant c$il"ren in Kei*ing an" one in S$ang$ai, #rovi"ing after
sc$ool #rograms for more t$an 400 migrant c$il"ren+ 'nclu"e" )orks )it$
t$e Government2run A$ina Social ,elfare 8oun"ation+ Kot$ t$e Kei*ing an"
S$ang$ai Government $ave #rovi"e" 'nclu"e" )it$ fun"ing su##ort+ Alearly
even aut$oritarian governments $ave realise" t$at t$ere is sense in
allo)ing civil society organisations t$e s#ace to assist communities+
&Ke >lert
.o a"" fuel to t$e Lanka 3re, t$e Ee#artment of G6ternal =esources $as
#u(lis$e" a notice informing every(o"y, inclu"ing t$e Government itself,
civil society an" t$e general #u(lic re/uesting t$em to &Ke >lert of )$at is
"one )it$ foreign remittances+ 8urt$er, t$e ne)s#a#ers carry a story t$at a
Aa(inet Binister $as violate" t$is &Ke >lert a"visoryJ 's t$e G6ternal
=esources e"ict even )ort$ t$e #a#er it is #rinte" on0 's it )it$in t$e
G6ternal =esources Ee#artments man"ate0 Bore on t$is later+
'nterestingly, a notice (y t$e Binistry of 8inance an" Dlanning invites civil
society an" NGOs, among ot$ers, to su(mit #ro#osals for t$e 2019 Ku"get+
's t$ere no issue of t$is (eing O)it$in t$eir man"atePJ0
.$e rig$t $an" "oes not kno) )$at t$e left $an" is "oingJ
.$e )riter is a la)yer, )$o $as over ?0 years of e6#erience as a AGO in
(ot$ State an" #rivate sectors+ 1e retire" from t$e o7ce of Secretary,
Binistry of 8inance an" currently is t$e Banaging Eirector of t$e Sri Lanka
Kusiness Eevelo#ment Aentre+!