Bali demands a greater share in autonomy era<\/p>\n
Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
The words regional autonomy used to be strange and even taboo
\nto the ears of many Indonesians, including the Balinese. But
\nsince the Indonesian government imposed Law No. 22\/1999 on the
\nimplementation of regional autonomy, people have become obsessed
\nwith the term.<\/p>\n
The law has ushered in a new era in which the central
\ngovernment reduces and transfers its authority to the regional
\nadministrations. In practical terms it means that each province
\nand regency has the power to govern itself.<\/p>\n
Having been trapped in a centralized governmental system for
\nmore than three decades, the imposition of the law has brought a
\nnew euphoria to local officials.<\/p>\n
For well-off provinces including Bali, which have been used as
\na cash cow for the central government for so long, the
\nimplementation of the regional autonomy law is expected to
\nincrease the welfare of the locals.<\/p>\n
Despite its abundant agricultural products, lucrative tourist
\nindustry, prospering garment, textile, handicraft and furniture
\nbusiness, Bali received a smaller share than expected. The
\nmajority of the profits and tax revenue went to the central
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Dewa Gede Palguna, a lecturer at the law faculty at Udayana
\nUniversity, said that regional autonomy had created brighter
\nexpectations as well as confusion among the Balinese people.
\n\"Suddenly, local officials feel they have new power and authority
\nto do whatever they want. Small-scale tyrants are everywhere,\"
\nPalguna said.<\/p>\n
Riswandha Imawan, political analyst from Gajah Mada University
\nin Yogyakarta, said in a seminar here that most local officials
\nhave not understood the real meaning of regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
Awkwardness, is probably the right term to illustrate the
\ncurrent condition in our governmental system, he said.<\/p>\n
In Bali, Palguna cited two possible scenarios. The first
\nscenario illustrates the fall of Bali as paradise island, while
\nthe second scenario will likely bring prosperity to the already
\nprosperous Bali.<\/p>\n
\"In my opinion, the first scenario is likely to occur now,\"
\nexplained Palguna at a seminar on the evaluation of the
\nimplementation of regional autonomy in Bali early this month.<\/p>\n
Currently, Palguna maintained, there has been a
\nmisunderstanding about regional autonomy among the provincial and
\nregional administrations on the island.<\/p>\n
Bali comprises eight regencies and one municipality including
\nBadung, Buleleng, Tabanan, Gianyar, Klungkung, Negara, Bangli
\nand the city of Denpasar.<\/p>\n
\"Each regional government has its own interpretation of the
\nregional autonomy law,\" said Palguna, who is also a member of
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly. Palguna said that each regency
\nwas trapped in narrow-mindedness. \"What they are thinking now is
\nhow to attract as many as investors as possible and to boost
\ntheir regional incomes from diverse sources.\"<\/p>\n
Bali is well known as Indonesia's number one tourist
\ndestination. But, actually, not all regencies in Bali enjoy the
\nbenefits of tourism, which affects only several areas in the
\nsouthern part of the island such as the beach area of Kuta, Sanur
\nand Nusa Dua as well as Gianyar and Tabanan, which are famous for
\ntheir culture and panoramic scenery.<\/p>\n
\"The rest of Bali's regencies generate income from
\nagriculture, forestry, fisheries and animal husbandry. But, these
\nregencies are now racing to get a slice of the tourism pie by
\nimproperly developing various tourist-related facilities,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Buleleng regency in North Bali is a clear example. Renowned
\nfor its agricultural products and spices such as rice, cloves,
\nblack pepper, vanilla and chocolate, Buleleng is now trying to
\nbuild a large variety of tourist facilities in areas that are
\nconsidered fertile agricultural lands and water catchment areas.<\/p>\n
Led by controversial Regent Wiratha Sindu, Buleleng is
\ncurrently developing an exclusive resort area named Villa Bukit
\nBerbunga in Lake Tamblingan, Bedugul, a border area between
\nBuleleng and Tabanan regencies. The regency also plans to build a
\ncable car.<\/p>\n
The plans have received harsh criticism from local
\nenvironmentalists, traditional and regional community leaders as
\nwell as from Governor Dewa Made Beratha. But, the Buleleng
\nregional authority has ignored their objections.<\/p>\n
\"Such a violation (of land use) indicates that the provincial
\ngovernment has no power to monitor and to control development
\nactivities at the regional level,\" Palguna said.<\/p>\n
Uncontrolled development projects have certainly caused
\nsocial, cultural and environmental problems.<\/p>\n
However, the existing law on regional autonomy backs Wiratha
\nSindu's actions.<\/p>\n
Based on the law, regional authorities have full authority to
\ncarry out development projects. The law also implies that regents
\nare not directly responsible to a governor.<\/p>\n
Another extreme case is division of regional income. Before
\nregional autonomy took effect on Jan. 2000, a number of richer
\nregencies and municipalities would distribute a portion of their
\nrevenue to poorer regencies.<\/p>\n
Regional autonomy has encouraged egocentric feelings among
\nlocal authorities. The rich Badung regency, for instance, has
\nobjected to having to distribute 30 percent of its tax revenue
\nfrom its lucrative tourist industry to less prosperous regencies.
\n\"Conflicts between regencies could become commonplace in the near
\nfuture,\" Palguna warned.<\/p>\n
In an interview with The Jakarta Post earlier, Governor Dewa
\nMade Beratha stressed the urgent need to revise the existing law
\non regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
Dewa Beratha hoped that the central government could grant
\nBali special autonomy at the provincial level only. \"Bali has
\nspecific religious, social and cultural characteristics which
\ndiffer from other regions in Indonesia.\" By implementing the
\npresent law, Bali will be torn into pieces. Bali should be
\nconsidered one entity in terms of space, culture and religion,
\nexplained Dewa Beratha. \"If we talk about tourism in Bali, we
\nhave never said tourism in Buleleng or tourism in Denpasar,\" the
\ngovernor added. The present regional autonomy has deepened the
\ngap between the rich and poor regencies. \"Although Bali has
\nalways been regarded as a rich province, there are some regencies
\nthat are only able to generate meager incomes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But more importantly, the current concept of regional autonomy
\nwill affect religious, social and cultural life.<\/p>\n
The governor cited the example of Besakih, the mother temple
\nin Bali which is located in Karang Asem regency.<\/p>\n
What would happen if the regency imposed regulations that
\nprevent people from coming to the temple. \"There could be
\nfriction among Hindu followers in Bali,\" the governor emphasized.<\/p>\n
In the agricultural field, Bali has the subak traditional
\nirrigation system, that covers rice fields in several villages,
\nwhich are often located between two or more regencies. \"Problems
\nconcerning the system have to be dealt with by villagers of the
\ntwo regencies.\" Exploration of natural resources and tourist
\nattractions are also on border areas between regencies.<\/p>\n
Political observer I Wayan Koster said as quoted by Bali Post
\nthat Bali, like other provinces in Indonesia, has to learn more
\nabout the implementation of regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"Regional autonomy is not a one-day project. It is a huge task
\nthat requires a drastic change in people's mind sets and the
\nmentality of government officials at central, provincial and
\nregional levels,\" Koster explained. The central government, he
\nobserved, has only halfheartedly imposed the law and plans to
\nrevise it. \"It seems that the central government has no
\nconfidence in fully transferring the power and authority to
\nregional administrations,\" Koster added.<\/p>\n
Koster also mentioned that in Bali province, regional autonomy
\nhas been little understood by both provincial and regional
\nexecutors as well as legislators. \"The working schemes of both
\nexecutors and legislators must be progressive enough to create
\nand impose any public policy. So far, they are still working on
\nthe old concept,\" he said. In Bali, there should be a leader who
\nis capable of clearly translating regional autonomy in order to
\nprevent any misunderstanding.<\/p>\n
\"I suggest that the provincial government, regional
\nadministration and legislative bodies sit together to build a
\nsimilar vision and views on regional autonomy,\" Koster noted.
\nClear division of transfer of authority is also important. Citing
\nan example, Koster said that tourism would be better handled by
\nprovincial government as it covers interregional, interisland and
\ninternational activities. The provincial government should also
\ntackle the education and health sectors to maintain the required
\nstandards.<\/p>\n
In terms of income, provincial and regional governments must
\nwork hand in hand to demand more revenues from business
\nactivities of private and state-owned companies.<\/p>\n
Bali should, at least, receive 40 percent of the revenue from
\nits tourist industry. Presently, the bulk of the revenue from the
\nindustry goes to the central government. \"This is a fair and
\nlogical demand. Balinese people are kind enough not to demand a
\nspecial autonomy like other provinces,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Palguna, however, emphasized that the implementation of
\nregional autonomy was not an easy task.<\/p>\n
\"It's like holding a bird. If you grasp the bird tightly, it
\nwill probably die. But, it will fly away if you loosen your
\ngrip,\" said Palguna.<\/p>\n
Koster predicted that in Bali and other places, it will need
\nmore than 10 years to properly and effectively implement regional
\nautonomy. \"Don't dream of changing the system in one or two
\nyears.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bali-demands-a-greater-share-in-autonomy-era-1447893297",
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