Forming nations: Beyond Western-centrism

The Indonesian Environmental Forum was established in 1980 by a small group of non-governmental organisations and individuals concerned about issues related to the environment. This chapter presents the development of three pro-democracy organizations in South Sumatra, Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH)-Palembang, Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI)-Sumsel, and South Sumatra Corruption Watch (SSCW). It describes the challenges they face as they respond to Laws 22/99 and 25/99, which transfer authority over local administration from the central government to districts, bypassing the provincial government. LBH-Palembang grew out of an organization called Biro Pelayanan Masyarakat (BPM), which was founded to provide legal counsel to the poor. The campaign against LBH-Palembang mounted by government officials in the aftermath of this incident can be seen as a sign of the effectiveness of LBH-Palembang in pushing for reform in South Sumatra. WALHI-Sumsel and LBH-Palembang filed suit in the Palembang District Court charging the companies responsible for setting fires with causing environmental damage.