Autonomy bill provides for regional initiative<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The passage of the regional autonomy bill by the
\nHouse of Representatives on Wednesday will not only allow a
\ngreater say for regional administrations and legislatures in
\nmanaging their affairs, but also leaves room for creativity and
\nresponsibility.<\/p>\n
Four House factions -- the United Development Party (PPP), the
\nGolkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) -- emphasized during the plenary session, during
\nwhich they endorsed the bill, that legal work was still needed on
\nthe document.<\/p>\n
The government, for instance, had to amend a number of
\nexisting laws and establish directives before the bill would be
\neffective.<\/p>\n
In the session chaired by Deputy House Speaker Hari Sabarno,
\nthe factions said the bill would allow regional administrations
\n-- at the regency and mayoralty level -- to draft favorable
\nregulations without interference from the central government.<\/p>\n
\"For instance, regional administration can draft regulations
\nthat will entice investors to do business in their regions,\" the
\nDirector General for Regional Autonomy and Public Administration
\nof the home affairs ministry, Ryaas Rasyid, said on the sidelines
\nof the session.<\/p>\n
In their final overview of the bill, the Golkar and ABRI
\nfactions emphasized the wide-ranging regional autonomy provisions
\nin the package, including authority to control areas such as
\nports, industrial sites, plantations, mining, forestry and
\ntourism.<\/p>\n
\"This regulation is a bold and positive step brought about by
\nthe (power) decentralization, so authorities, which all this time
\nhave been precluded (from decision making) will now be reached by
\nregional governments,\" Golkar spokesman Sunatra told the session.<\/p>\n
ABRI spokesman Zawiah Ramlie, said the granting of greater
\nautonomy would mean a reduced Cabinet in the future.<\/p>\n
For decades, the central government had the final say on areas
\nsuch as mining and forestry rulings. The new law will reverse the
\ntradition and grant regional administrations a greater say in
\nmanaging those areas.<\/p>\n
The legislation, however, excludes defense and security
\naffairs, foreign affairs, judicial, monetary, fiscal and
\nreligious affairs, which will remain in the hands of the central
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The legislation also excludes the thorny issue of revenue-
\nsharing between the central government and local governments,
\nwhich will be regulated in a separate law slated for endorsement
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
Communities from provinces that are rich in natural resources
\nhave often criticized the government for exploiting their natural
\nwealth without returning a fair share of the revenue, leaving
\ntheir regions poor and undeveloped.<\/p>\n
The PDI statement said: \"It's natural to concede wide-ranging
\nautonomy to all provinces and regencies. Even rich regions such
\nas Irian Jaya, Aceh, Riau and East Kalimantan deserve special
\nattention\".<\/p>\n
\"It's ironic that the rich regions still see many people there
\nliving below the poverty line, despite making a substantial
\ncontribution to the central government,\" PDI spokesman Budi R.
\nHutapea said.<\/p>\n
PPP said the new legislation grants provincial administrations
\nthe authority to manage regency administration affairs, should
\nthe latter be deemed incapable of performing their function.<\/p>\n
The move, however, could be launched only after the mayoralty
\nor regency administrations themselves admitted incompetency due
\nto limited funding, facilities, infrastructures or human
\nresources, PPP said in a statement read by Chodidjah H.M. Soleh.
\n(aan)<\/p>",
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