Govt firm on greater regional autonomy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government is steadfast in its plan to
\ndelegate, for a trial period, greater autonomy to 26 selected
\nregencies despite several ministries' objections, a senior
\nofficial said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Director general for Public Administration and Regional
\nAutonomy of the Home Affairs Ministry, Sumitro Maskun, said that
\nbasically all ministries support the plan.<\/p>\n
\"But some (ministries) are not sure to what extent they will
\nempower regency administrations to manage affairs,\" he told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
Sumitro was commenting on objections from three ministries,
\nthe Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of
\nInformation and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, to delegating
\npart of their authorities to regency government.<\/p>\n
The three ministries are reportedly still discuss their stance
\non the autonomy projects with the State Ministry of
\nAdministrative Reforms. Maskun said he is yet to find out what
\nauthorities the three ministries refuse to delegate.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto is scheduled to launch the autonomy pilot
\nprojects on the 26 regencies on April 3 in Kalimantan. Each of
\nthe regencies will receive Rp 60 million ($28,000) to implement
\nthe program.<\/p>\n
Preparations for the launching, according to Sumitro, has been
\ngoing on despite the three ministries' objections. \"The autonomy
\n(pilot projects) will go on,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Critics say the government has been very slow in implementing
\nautonomy. Indonesia passed the law on regional autonomy in 1974
\nand the trial period only begins next month.<\/p>\n
Under the pilot project, greater autonomy to manage resources
\nwill be given to more affluent regencies.<\/p>\n
Sumitro said there is fear in some ministries that regency
\ngovernments will have too much independence in minding their
\naffairs once they obtain autonomy.<\/p>\n
He insisted that the fear is unnecessary because the basic and
\n\"strategic\" policy will remain in the hands of the central
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"The central government will not insist on giving greater
\nautonomy to regencies which are not ready for it,\" he said. (29)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-firm-on-greater-regional-autonomy-1447893297",
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