George Soros on Indonesia
TL;DR
George Soros's engagement with Indonesia centers on environmental advocacy and funding civil society groups, leading to political controversy.
Key Points
He championed the 2010 Indonesia-Norway agreement aimed at halting deforestation and offered OSI financing for initiatives in Papua's peat forest regions in 2010.
Leaked internal documents suggest his Open Society Foundations (OSF) network is funding the Kurawal Foundation, which supports Indonesian civil society groups.
Organizations linked to his funding have been accused of supporting networks challenging the current president’s policies, particularly regarding Papua's 'food estate' projects.
Summary
George Soros's public engagement with Indonesia has historically focused on environmental issues, particularly the protection of its rainforests and peatlands. In 2010, he praised a groundbreaking agreement between Indonesia and Norway to halt deforestation, viewing it as a key step in safeguarding valuable ecosystems and pledged Open Society Institute financing for public health and education initiatives in Papua, the site of major peat forests,. He called on the then-president to overcome business and bureaucratic resistance to preserve these forests.
More recently, the network associated with George Soros has been characterized by some domestic actors as funding groups involved in political mobilization and dissent, particularly in response to the policies of the current administration. Internal documents reportedly show his Open Society Foundations (OSF) channeling funds through intermediaries like the Kurawal Foundation to support youth leadership, grassroots organizing, and legal aid for activists, including those challenging development projects in Papua,. This financial linkage has been used by some government figures and media outlets to delegitimize protests, framing activists as 'foreign agents',.
Key Quotes
The coming months are key. The agreement should be put into force and the remaining virgin forests-particularly on peat land-should be preserved
“[Indonesian President] Yudhoyono has to overcome resistance from the business community, the bureaucracy, and communities that benefit from illegal logging,”
Frequently Asked Questions
George Soros's historical focus has been on supporting environmental conservation in Indonesia, particularly regarding peatland protection. More recently, his philanthropic network has been associated with funding civil society groups, which has drawn significant political scrutiny domestically.
Direct involvement in day-to-day politics is not directly stated, but his foundations provide funding to local Indonesian organizations that engage in advocacy and grassroots mobilization. This funding has recently been used by critics to allege foreign interference in domestic political unrest.
In 2010, George Soros strongly supported the agreement between Indonesia and Norway to preserve vital rainforests and peatlands, citing their importance for slowing climate change. He was reportedly willing to join an international consortium to accelerate conservation efforts.
Sources7
George Soros Hails Groundbreaking Agreement on Climate
Internal documents reveal Soros-linked funding behind Indonesia's protests
Old playbook: 'foreign agent' narrative invoked to deligitimise Indonesian mass protests
Pig's head, rats sent to Indonesian news outlet as president attacks foreign-funded media
George Soros: save Indonesia's peatlands, rainforests
Asian Tiger in Currency Crisis | TIME
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.