Decentralization a must for RI<\/p>\n
By Iwan Mucipto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Post of Feb. 26 suggested that the
\ntroubled triple-tier transit system project was in danger of
\nbecoming the "triple blunder" project. It has in fact already
\nearned that title and the first blunder was to have initiated the
\nproject in the first place.<\/p>\n
That Jakarta needs an urgent solution to its traffic problem
\nis beyond doubt, but it is questionable whether more of the same
\nis the solution, or part of the problem.<\/p>\n
City planners are well aware that building more roads attracts
\nmore cars and more people. This process continues -- development
\nleads to more development until, like the emergence of a
\nmalignant growth, overdevelopment and maldevelopment result.<\/p>\n
What Jakarta and the country needs is not more toll roads,
\nalthough there are some parties who benefit from tollways, but
\npolicies to decentralize the country.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is the product of extreme centralization
\ncharacteristic of an "integralistic" state. It is the
\nmetropolitan heart of a classic center-periphery structure, where
\nthe center claims profits made in the periphery and reinvests
\nthose profits in the center alone.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is the administrative, commercial and industrial
\ncenter of the country. Almost 80 percent of money in circulation
\nthroughout Indonesia is in Jakarta, from where it largely flows
\nout of the country in the direction of the industrialized North,
\nthe global metropole.<\/p>\n
Money and investment in the heartland attract a steady stream
\nof migrant job seekers from the hinterland. This drains
\nperipheral areas of prime human resources and clogs Jakarta's
\nstreets.<\/p>\n
The financial might of Jakarta reinforces the process, leading
\neventually to a top heavy, oppressive and exploitative center,
\nwhich acts as a bottle-neck to development. In the end the center
\nwill self-destruct amid decay, glaring inequalities and social
\nunrest.<\/p>\n
By initiating projects, development and investments all
\nconcentrated in the same area, the country is not coming up with
\na solution, but staving off disaster. Partial solutions only
\nattract yet more problems which need solutions, perpetuating the
\nviscous circle.<\/p>\n
Regarding transport in the city, draconian measures to curb
\ncar use coupled with the provision of alternative means of
\ntransport are required. Strictly enforced car-free zones with an
\nadequate bus service to compensate is an example of one way to
\nproceed.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately Indonesia has the bad luck to have a very strong
\nexecutive branch and a soft state. Democracy is thwarted and
\npopular feedback and "reverse transmission" which normally
\nenables the government to adjust to changing circumstances is
\nstifled. At the same time, the country's elite is above the law
\nand this results in confusion. No rule ever can be enforced,
\nparticularly when applied to the Jakarta-based elite.<\/p>\n
An alternative solution to the transport crisis is
\ncomprehensive urban and regional planning. But again, a lack of
\nvision and political will, vested interests, institutional
\nrivalry, poor coordination, corruption and the unruly leaders of
\nthe ruling elite destroy every good plan.<\/p>\n
They build factories in greenbelt areas and villas in
\nwater catchment zones. They even cut down hundreds of trees just
\nto hold a single ceremony. In doing so they did not hesitate to
\ngo over the head of the governor of Indonesia's capital city.
\nThis latter misdemeanor only came to light when the governor
\nunexpectedly voiced his displeasure.<\/p>\n
A third alternative would be to separate the functions of the
\ncity. Jakarta, centered around West Java's main port, could be
\nthe commercial center of the country. Light industry could remain
\nin the area, but the capital functions and heavy industry would
\nbe relocated to other areas of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Java has become overdeveloped. Property developers are
\ncramming industrial parks, satellite cities, tollways and golf
\ncourses onto the most densely populated island in the world. It
\nhas even been proposed to add nuclear reactors to the list of
\ndevelopments already placed on this volcanic island.<\/p>\n
Java, by virtue of its fertile soils, happens to be the rice
\nbasket of the nation. Claiming land for industrial projects has
\ncaused agricultural production to fall at the cost of losing self
\nsufficiency in rice production.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the government is spending trillions of rupiah on
\nattempts to develop a complicated farming system on Kalimantan's
\nacid wetlands. Localized successes are grasped at to justify the
\nmassive investments and high risks of failure, of which recent
\nhistory has many examples. That is not to mention the problems of
\npollution, soil degradation and consequent cycle of droughts and
\nfloods which will follow.<\/p>\n
Attempts have been made to relocate people on the outer
\nislands of Indonesia, but at the same time Java has been
\ndeveloped into a magnet for reverse transmigration.<\/p>\n
To solve this problem, more of the same is not required. Only
\nby reversing the process through decentralization will a solution
\nbe found. The process should be initiated by removing the capital
\nto Kalimantan and relocating heavy industry to sites closer to
\nthe Pacific Rim, closer to raw materials (iron ore, coal) and
\nfarther away from population and agricultural centers.<\/p>\n
Java should remain as the nation's rice basket, and the burden
\nof centralization and overdevelopment should be lifted from her
\nshoulders.<\/p>\n
Transmigration policies should be altered. No longer should
\nfarmers conditioned on Java's fertile soils be encouraged to work
\nthe sandy and acid soils of the outer islands, where they cut
\ndown forests, clash with indigenous people, and remain poor.
\nInstead ecologically sound agriculture and agribusiness should be
\nencouraged in Java and white and blue-collar workers should be
\ntransferred to the periphery. This would break up the center and
\nreverse the brain drain from the hinterland.<\/p>\n
This article does not claim to offer a solution, but sets out
\nto illustrate that overdevelopment cannot be cured by further
\ndevelopment. I hope it will also remind people of an idea, first
\ntouted during Sukarno's reign, to relocate the capital as the
\nfirst step toward a real decentralization process that goes well
\nbeyond MPR decrees which grant limited autonomy to the outlying
\nprovinces without letting up on efforts to sink Java like the
\nTitanic. I happen to be a below deck passenger.<\/p>\n
The triple-tier project may be grand but my salary has just
\nbeen cut, so I have a problem appreciating this grandeur. I'd
\nrather suffer for something real, such as political reform
\nincluding decentralization, since then I could become an
\nentrepreneur in Lombok, instead of having to work in an office in
\nJakarta and add to the problem of transportation.<\/p>",
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