Govt shuns call for regional law revision<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta\/Cirebon<\/p>\n
Ignoring public demand for an amendment to Regional
\nAdministration Law No. 32\/2004, the government has insisted that
\nit will issue a regulation to justify its involvement in the
\ndirect election of the heads of regental governments.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf said the ministry was
\nfinishing the draft regulation, the issuance of which is mandated
\nin the Regional Administration Law.<\/p>\n
\"We are continuing our preparations for the regental
\nelections. The public's demand for a revision can be discussed
\nlater,\" he told a hearing with House of Representatives
\nCommission II for home and regional autonomy affairs on Monday.<\/p>\n
The minister was responding to calls from the public and
\nlegislators that the law be revised before regental elections
\ntook place.<\/p>\n
Law No. 32\/2004 authorizes the central government to issue a
\nregulation covering guidelines and detailed procedures on the
\nregental elections.<\/p>\n
The Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) said the law needed
\nrevising or otherwise, regental elections would be prone to abuse
\nand manipulation involving the central government.<\/p>\n
\"It must be the General Elections Commission (KPU), not the
\ngovernment, that issues the guidelines,\" Cetro deputy director
\nHadar N. Gumay said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Hadar cited the experience under the New Order, when the home
\nministry organized and determined the results of elections.<\/p>\n
The role of the home ministry, as the central government's
\nrepresentative, must be reduced to ceremonial duties to prevent
\ncorruption and collusion, he said.<\/p>\n
A number of legislators also questioned the role of the
\ncentral government in the regental elections.<\/p>\n
Legislator Ryaas Rasyid of the Democratic Pioneer Star (BPD)
\nfaction said the regulations on regental elections contained
\ninconsistencies.<\/p>\n
Ryaas said the KPU was able to organize a peaceful general
\nelections and the presidential election. \"Why is the KPU not
\ninvolved in the regental elections also?\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mahfuz Shidiq of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS)
\nsuggested that the government pay more attention to public
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
According to the home ministry, the terms of 224 governors,
\nmayors and regents will end in 2005, and the heads of regional
\ngovernments for the 2005-2010 period will be elected directly.<\/p>\n
The home minister estimates Rp 800 billion (US$88 million)
\nwill be needed for the regental elections next year.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Regency Administrations' Association (Apkasi)
\nexpected that the central and provincial governments to
\ncontribute to the regental elections.<\/p>\n
Dedi Supardi, chairman of Apkasi West Java, said each election
\nwould cost Rp 20 billion.<\/p>\n
According to him, the four regencies and one city in West Java
\nto hold elections next year are: the regencies of Indramayu,
\nBandung, Karawang and Sukabumi, and the city of Depok.<\/p>\n
Indramayu Regent Irianto Syafiudin said his administration
\ncould only allocate Rp 5 billion for the election.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-shuns-call-for-regional-law-revision-1447893297",
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