Second CIA and Intelligence Operations Under the Guise of Democracy Promotion

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in CIA Kedua dan Operasi Intelijen Berkedok Promosi Demokrasi

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Hope for a safe and peaceful election is expressed by the community through murals, as seen in the area of Juanda Street, Depok, West Java, on Saturday (23/9/2023). In early September 2023, several parties in Indonesia discussed the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The organization, which is funded by the government of the United States, is said to be attempting to influence elections in Indonesia.

In early September 2023, some parties in Indonesia suddenly discussed the National Endowment for Democracy and the International Republican Institute. The institutions funded by the United States government were repeatedly mentioned during changes of government in several countries. Forced changes, especially those not favored by Washington, have been experienced by many governments.

Discussion about the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and International Republican Institute (IRI) is marked by pros and cons. Some are upset over the accusations, while others remind that the origin of those accusations is unclear.

Before that, NED-IRI was said to have funded several civil society organizations (CSOs) and community activists in Indonesia. CSOs receiving funds from NED, including, regularly discuss Uighur issues. Strangely, recipients do not discuss Palestine or the ban on hijab for Muslim women in Europe.

However, for the majority of Muslims in Indonesia and several other countries, the issue of Palestine is given more attention. The issue of the ban on hijab in Europe is also being more concerned than Uighur.

Also read: Indonesia and Changes in the Middle East

Allegations against NED and IRI have been heard for decades. In a report published in August 1989, Washington revealed NED's role in helping the mass movement in Poland. The movement eventually toppled the government in Warsaw.

NED is also said to have overthrown Evo Morales in Bolivia. The Color Revolution in Bolivia forced Morales to step down and go into exile overseas. NED-IRI is said to have been involved in the Arab Spring of 2011, the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine in 2014, and even the Hong Kong protests of 2019. In fact, in its 2020 report, NED admitted to disbursing 2 million US dollars for various programs and groups in Hong Kong.

At least 2,000 institutions, some of which are located in Indonesia, receive money every year from NED. The funds are mainly distributed to parties that oppose the government that is disliked by Washington.

Meanwhile, President IRI and Twining admitted to funding the Malaysian opposition since 2002. The confession was made in 2018, the first year that the opposition could win the election in Malaysia. In 2021, several Malaysian media outlets once again discuss the accusation. There has been no official response from Pakatan Harapan, the Malaysian opposition faction from 1998-2018, regarding the accusation.

China's accusation

Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made even more serious accusations. Beijing calls NED-IRI just another form of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Indeed, to the Washington Post in 1991, NED founder Alan Weinstein admitted that NED carried out activities similar to those of the CIA. Because of this, the NED is sometimes called the Second CIA.

REUTERS/UMIT BEKTAS

Anti-government protesters staged a demonstration in front of the British Consulate in Hong Kong, China on Wednesday (23/10/2019). The Hong Kong authorities finally officially scrapped the Extradition Bill that initially sparked the series of protests in the city.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated that NED-IRI is covertly using the campaign for democracy to weaken democracy. Governments elected by the people through elections are being overturned by mass movements. "NED has been involved in various revolutions that have helped overthrow governments in many countries," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, in July 2022.

NED's actions, according to Zhao, have been proven to cause chaos in several countries. Overthrowing governments leads to the loss of stability and security in many countries. Prior to these coups, those countries were stable, and their citizens lived relatively peaceful and prosperous lives. The problem is that these governments openly reject the US.

To overthrow or at least destabilize such a government, NED-IRI disburses funds and various facilities to parties in several countries. The disbursement is called a grant for the promotion of democracy, human rights, and equality of rights.

NED is said to operate in at least 100 countries. At least 2,000 institutions, some of which are located in Indonesia, receive money every year from NED. The money is primarily disbursed to parties who oppose governments that are not favored by Washington.

With that money, the recipients staged protests and even campaigned to push for a change in government. Some recipients also used campaign funds to participate in the elections. "NED invests a large sum of money to erode peace and stability in various countries," said Zhao.