Confident Jakarta 'ready for more autonomy'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso feted the 474th anniversary of
\nJakarta on Friday with a declaration that the nation's capital
\nwas ready to accept greater responsibility, as well as duties,
\nfrom the central government under the new regional autonomy law.<\/p>\n
Three years after some of the worst riots ever to have rocked
\nthe city, the governor also expressed confidence that Jakarta and
\nits eight million residents were now far more \"patient and
\nmature\" in dealing with present and future challenges, including
\nthose concerning security aspects.<\/p>\n
To drive home his point, he said the capital had successfully
\nhosted a number of national and international events without a
\nhitch and was now ready for more.<\/p>\n
\"Imbued with the spirit of reform and national unity, Jakarta
\nis ready to put regional autonomy into effect,\" he pronounced in
\na speech to the City Council marking the city's anniversary.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso stressed empowerment, public service and development
\nas the three basic principles underpinning the regional autonomy
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
He said that the responsibility for realizing the goals of
\nregional autonomy should not rest solely on the shoulders of the
\nadministration, but should involve the entire population of the
\ncapital.<\/p>\n
The administration and City Council are currently in the
\nprocess of discussing a new bylaw on the organization of the
\nregional government so as to accommodate the newly gained
\nautonomy.<\/p>\n
This would entail restructuring and reorganization that would
\naffect the number of city employees, he said without elaborating
\nwhether or not this meant layoffs in the city administration.<\/p>\n
The Law on Regional Autonomy, which came into force on Jan. 1,
\ngives the regions much greater power in managing their own
\naffairs. With the central government pressed for funds, the
\narrangement means that the regions will have to generate much of
\ntheir financing locally.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said that after the initial euphoria over democracy,
\nmost Jakartans had now grasped the essence of real, dynamic life.<\/p>\n
He described the majority of the city's residents as becoming
\nmore \"patient and mature\" so that they were no longer so easily
\nroused or influenced by anarchic acts.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has continued to see various demonstrations, almost on
\na daily basis, over much of the past year, but most of them
\npassed off without incident. The latest protests this week were
\nover the 30 percent increases in domestic fuel prices.<\/p>\n
In May 1998, student-led antigovernment demonstrations
\ncombined with public protests over hikes in fuel prices led to
\nthe massive unrest that eventually brought down the Soeharto
\nregime.<\/p>\n
\"The people of Jakarta have been able to discount the various
\nrumors that are circulating and the friction among the nation's
\npoliticians, and have kept their heads cool and clear,\" Sutiyoso
\nsaid. \"The people of Jakarta have managed to distinguish and
\nunderstand what is best for themselves, for their city's image,
\nfor the environment.\"<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said that the May 1998 riots provided important
\nlessons in restoring economic activity and security in the
\ncapital.<\/p>\n
A number of important plenary sessions of the House of
\nRepresentatives, the conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,
\nthe summit of the Group of 15 countries and other major events
\nthis past year attested to the more conducive security situation
\nif Jakarta, he said.<\/p>\n
The next big event that Jakarta would host was the Special
\nSession of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), currently
\nscheduled for Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
The governor appealed to all residents to help maintain peace
\nand order in the capital in the run up to that event, which could
\nmean the launching of an impeachment process against President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Notwithstanding many shortcomings, Sutiyoso said Jakarta
\nrecorded many economic advances over the past year.<\/p>\n
The economy grew by 3.62 percent in 2000, compared to a 1.29
\npercent contraction in 1999, and income per capita rose to Rp
\n6.06 million from Rp 5.02 million over the same period, he said.<\/p>\n
The administration had also conducted various operations to
\nrestore peace and order in the city, including a joint operation
\nwith the Jakarta Police to crack down on hoodlums, or preman as
\nthey are known locally, who have been blamed for many of the
\nsecurity disruptions that have taken place in the city.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, whose term of office is to end in 2002, also
\npromised to continue with his efforts to establish a clean
\nadministration while at the same time improving the lot of city
\nofficials. (04\/emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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