Government completes autonomy revision<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has completed the draft revision of the 1999
\nautonomy law, which will take back some of the power it dispensed
\nto local authorities.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said on Wednesday that
\nthe revision would ease difficulties facing the central
\ngovernment in managing the country with autonomy placed in the
\nhands of regents.<\/p>\n
"It is impossible for the central government to supervise 416
\nregencies at the same time, so we decided to expand the role of
\nthe governors," Hari said before meeting with President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
"With the revision, we will have a stronger administrative
\nhierarchy and therefore the authority of provinces will be
\nexpanded."<\/p>\n
He said that since its implementation in 2000, regional
\nautonomy had resulted in many flaws.<\/p>\n
Megawati ordered the revision of the law when she assumed
\npower in July 2001, on the grounds autonomy threatened national
\nunity.<\/p>\n
She has repeatedly said that regencies had excessively
\nexercised their authorities for the sake of revenue, but failed
\nto improve people's welfare and preserve natural resources.<\/p>\n
The revision plan has been met with strong resistance from
\nregents across the country.<\/p>\n
Hari said the revision was not aimed at weakening regional
\nautonomy, but to correct mismanagement taking place in the past
\nthree years.<\/p>\n
"We have to provide a clear outline of what the authorities of
\nthe regencies and governors will be."<\/p>\n
Apart from the controversial plan to curb the power of
\nregional administrations, the draft stipulates direct election of
\nregents, mayors and governors, reminiscent of the landmark direct
\npresidential election to be held next year.<\/p>\n
With the change in the election system, articles on the
\nrelations between the regional heads and the local legislature
\nneed revision too.<\/p>\n
The government has also revised the articles on the financial
\nallocation between Jakarta and regencies, as well as articles on
\nthe sea borders between the regencies.<\/p>\n
Hari said the draft would be presented to the President and
\nCabinet before it was submitted to the House of Representatives,
\nthe dates of which were undecided.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-completes-autonomy-revision-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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