Autonomy laws revision slammed<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former state minister of regional autonomy Ryaas Rasyid
\ncriticized on Saturday central government's plan to revise the
\nnewly implemented autonomy law as a sign of its reluctance to
\nrelinquish many of its powers to local administrations.<\/p>\n
\"Why should central government revise the law? The failure of
\nits implementation lies in central government's unwillingness to
\nsupport the program, as it will only lessen its power on locals,\"
\nRyaas told The Jakarta Post over the phone from Makassar, South
\nSulawesi.<\/p>\n
Ryaas, who was heavily involved in the drafting of the
\nregional autonomy law when he was director general of regional
\nautonomy at the Ministry of Home Affairs, blamed the government
\nfor not being transparent in reviewing the law.<\/p>\n
That's why, many regents resented or even objected to the
\ngovernment's plan, Ryaas said.<\/p>\n
\"As an integral part of the governmental system, these local
\nadministrations should be involved in the project,\" said Ryaas,
\nwho resigned from the cabinet of former president Abdurrahman
\nWahid due to his differences on how to handle regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
Despite protests from regents and representatives of local
\nadministrations over the plan to revise Law No. 22\/1999 on
\nregional autonomy and Law No. 25\/1999 on fiscal balance, Minister
\nof Home Affairs Hari Sabarno asserted that the government would
\ncontinue with its plan.<\/p>\n
Hari also said that local administrations would not be
\ninvolved in the plan \"for their own interest\".<\/p>\n
Director general for regional public administration at the
\nMinistry of Home Affairs Sudarsono Hardjosoekarto added that the
\ngovernment could not involve more parties in the review of the
\nlaw because, \"We need more time to identify problems caused by
\nthe law.\"<\/p>\n
Sudarsono, who chairs the team tasked to revise the autonomy
\nlaw, contended that the review of the regional autonomy law aimed
\nto prevent disintegration of the country.<\/p>\n
He added that the autonomy law, if implemented as it was,
\ncould pose a danger of disintegration as it gave too much power
\nto local administrations.<\/p>\n
Besides, Sudarsono said, several articles in the autonomy law
\ncontradicted each other.<\/p>\n
For example, Article 7 verse 2 contradicted with Article 119.
\nThey contradicted in terms of which party -- the central or local
\nadministration -- should control economic institutions.<\/p>\n
Other articles which would also potentially create disputes
\nbetween central and local administrations or even between the
\ngovernment and locals are Article 93 verse 1 and Articles 126
\nverse 2 on the establishment, elimination or merger of villages.<\/p>\n
\"As we know, several provinces such as Maluku and Papua have
\nvillages belonging to local tribes. Here, I'm sure they would
\nrefuse if their villages were merged into one Kelurahan or
\nvillage administration,\" Sudarsono said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/autonomy-laws-revision-slammed-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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