Despite some decent progress, autonomy remains big problems<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite progress over the past three years, the implementation of
\nregional autonomy in some parts of the country has fallen short
\nof what had originally been hoped for, The Asia Foundation
\nrevealed.<\/p>\n
The foundation noticed improved popular participation in the
\ndecision-making process, which encouraged the local
\ndemocratization process.<\/p>\n
\"The hoped-for better future, however, is shadowed by the
\ninability of legislative councils to respond to people's wishes,\"
\nsaid Hana A. Satriyo, a senior program officer with The Asia
\nFoundation here.<\/p>\n
She was speaking at a seminar titled \"Reflections on Three
\nYears of Regional Autonomy in Indonesia\", which was held here on
\nTuesday. The foundation's report was based on its monitoring of
\nthe administration of government in 31 regencies and nine
\nmunicipalities in 27 provinces.<\/p>\n
The monitoring process began in November 2001, and involved 28
\nresearch institutes in the local government jurisdictions
\nconcerned.<\/p>\n
A number of experts who helped The Asia Foundation in
\nmonitoring the practice of regional autonomy also presented their
\nfindings during the seminar.<\/p>\n
One of them, Medelina K. Hendytio of the Centre for Strategic
\nand International Studies (CSIS), said the central government's
\nintervention in some areas of local government was only giving
\nrise to disputes.<\/p>\n
In some fields, like mining, maritime boundaries and
\ntransportation, Medelina said, the central government had been
\nplaying the dominant role compared to that played by the regional
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
She asserted the vague dividing lines between the powers of
\nlocal administrations and the central government would adversely
\naffect the quality of public services.<\/p>\n
In order to improve the situation, the central government
\nneeded to continuously evaluate the roles and responsibilities of
\nprovincial and regency administrations.<\/p>\n
She suggested that local administrations formulate minimum
\nservice standards based on their evaluations.<\/p>\n
Bambang P.S. Brodjonegoro, an economist with the University of
\nIndonesia (UI), hailed the idea of adopting minimum service
\nstandards, and said the criteria for the standards should be
\ndiscussed between the local administrations and the central
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"Minimum service standards can serve as yardsticks for
\nevaluating how local autonomy is being administered,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Partini of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) said the
\nbureaucracy in Indonesia was culturally paternalistic by nature.<\/p>\n
She said gender bias in the bureaucracy was evident in most
\nareas of the country. Women lived in a male-dominated culture and
\nstructure, thus depriving them of access to the policy-making
\nprocess, she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/despite-some-decent-progress-autonomy-remains-big-problems-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}