While any individual or group, whether officially registered or not, may pose a threat to national security by importing potentially disruptive ideals, many attempts to restrict the work of NGOs and other civil society organisations conflict with citizens’ rights to free expression and association. Moreover, the national interest is, in many cases, being defined broadly, going beyond matters traditionally associated with security to include economic development and corporate concerns. In Ecuador, Pachamama was accused of taking action against internal state security and public peace; the Russian government claims various foreign-funded human rights groups are undermining its national interest; and, alongside their restrictions on foreign funding, Ethiopia and Venezuela have passed anti-terrorism laws that potentially criminalise legitimate dissent. In Perspectives, Komala Ramachandra on how Indias growing suspicion of foreign funded NGOs is part of an emerging global trend.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 09:30:00 +0000
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