Federal state best answer: Riau leader<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A federal state is the best option to resolve
\nthe row over unfair revenue sharing between the central
\ngovernment and Riau province, a prominent local figure insisted
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
Tabrani Rab, a lung disease specialist better known as a
\ncultural figure, said here that a federal state would give people
\nin the province more opportunities to manage their resources
\nwithout dispensing with Jakarta's authority.<\/p>\n
\"There is no other way but a federal state, unless what is now
\ngoing on in Aceh will happen in Riau or other provinces which for
\na long time have been under the heel of the central government,\"
\nTabrani told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He was here to address a seminar on empowering U.S. oil
\ncompany Caltex, which operates in Riau, for the welfare of its
\nlocal workers.<\/p>\n
Separatist movements have been on the rise in Aceh and Irian
\nJaya, due in large part to disappointment over the government's
\nfailure to allocate adequate shares of revenue gained from
\nexploitation of natural resources in the provinces.<\/p>\n
Tabrani, who has declared himself the president of a sovereign
\nRiau, said the province did not inherit a warring culture which
\nwas why it was not the site of clashes despite growing public
\nresentment against Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The government has decided to reserve Riau 15 percent of the
\ncountry's share of oil revenue, 5 percent higher than that
\ndemanded by Tabrani. The country receives 76 percent of gross
\nrevenue from the new concession granted to Caltex, which will
\nexpire in 2002.<\/p>\n
Tabrani was doubtful of the government's offer, saying that
\nthe government was not prepared to lose millions of dollars it
\nwas used to earning. Jakarta also badly needs money to pay its
\nwhopping foreign debts. Oil exploitation in Riau generates
\n800,000 barrels of crude oil per day, more than half of national
\ndaily oil product.<\/p>\n
Tabrani said he lost his trust in the government due to
\nrampant corruption, citing state oil company Pertamina as the
\nmost recent example of the graft rife in government institutions.<\/p>\n
A group of Riau people filed suit against President B.J.
\nHabibie, representing the government, demanding US$22 billion in
\ncompensation from two decades of oil exploitation in the
\nprovince. The court refused to hear the suit, but Tabrani made an
\nappeal to the higher court.<\/p>\n
He said he would consider appealing to the International Court
\nif his case faltered in the local courts. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/federal-state-best-answer-riau-leader-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}