Govt backs down on plan to revise autonomy law<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has backtracked on its earlier decision to review
\na law on regional autonomy and agreed to wait until an evaluation
\nof the legislation is completed before making changes.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the second national working meeting of the
\nAssociation of Regency Administrations (Apkasi) here on
\nWednesday, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno announced the
\ngovernment's decision not to review Law No. 22\/1999 on regional
\nautonomy as demanded by regional administrations.<\/p>\n
The decision received noisy applause from around 150 regents
\nwho attended the meeting.<\/p>\n
A proposal for revision of the law came from former director
\ngeneral of regional autonomy Sudarsono, who insisted that the law
\nneeded revision due to irregularities, particularly concerning
\nbudget allocations and the elections of the heads of regional
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
One of the most controversial contents of the draft of
\namendments to the law is an article that allows the president to
\ndissolve regional legislatures.<\/p>\n
Sudarsono's proposal resulted in strained relations between
\nthe central government and regency administrations, who suspected
\nthat it was only a ploy to return to a centralized system.<\/p>\n
The threat issued by 48 regencies on Monday to blockade oil
\nand gas operations due to a disappointing revenue split is the
\nlatest example of conflict between the central government and
\nlocal governments in the wake of regional autonomy
\nimplementation.<\/p>\n
Hari called on regional administrations to strive for
\nimprovements in the implementation of the law.<\/p>\n
\"It is time we took strategic measures to keep our
\ncommitment ... that regional autonomy is mandated by Article 18
\nof the 1945 Constitution and that the government is committed to
\nimproving the law and will not return to a centralized system,\"
\nHari said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
The minister also called for close cooperation between the
\ncentral government and provincial, regency as well as municipal
\nadministrations in implementing the law, to disseminate the law
\nand to educate people on its implications.<\/p>\n
Apkasi chairman Syaukani HR welcomed the decision as an
\nencouraging shift from the government's earlier decision.<\/p>\n
\"This is an encouraging change after (the government) seemed
\nto backtrack on regional autonomy simply because of some
\nirregularities,\" said Syaukani.<\/p>\n
\"There is a better understanding on regional autonomy among
\nregional administrations, thanks to efforts from the new director
\ngeneral of regional autonomy,\" he said, referring to Oentarto,
\nSudarsono's predecessor.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Oentarto said he would issue operational
\nregulations to support the implementation of the autonomy law.
\nThe regulations would deal with specific needs of certain
\nregions, including their authority in maritime matters, forestry
\nand port management, he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-backs-down-on-plan-to-revise-autonomy-law-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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