House debates autonomy laws<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Lawmakers agreed to accept the government-sponsored bill revising
\nthe local autonomy laws as their main reference point when they
\nbegan deliberating amendments to the laws on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The addition of the government's bill is likely to prolong the
\ndebate because the government's draft is more comprehensive than
\nthe revision prepared by the House of Representatives (DPR),
\nwhich only focuses on the direct election of regional government
\nheads.<\/p>\n
The agreement was reached following a closed-door meeting
\nbetween Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, Finance Minister
\nBoediono and leaders of the main House factions.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed to simultaneously discuss the two bills,\"
\nAgustin Teras Narang, the chairman of the House special committee
\non autonomy reform said.<\/p>\n
Law No. 22\/1999 on regional administration and Law No.
\n25\/1999, which sets a fiscal balance between the central
\ngovernment and regional administrations, came into force in 2000.<\/p>\n
The laws have caused confusion about the distribution of power
\nbetween local and central government. The DPR has also ordered a
\nreview of hundreds of local bylaws, which it says contain
\narticles incompatible with national laws.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the House initiated a draft bill that
\nintroduced the direct election of governors, mayors, and regents.
\nUnder the existing Law No. 22\/1999, governors, mayors, and
\nregents are elected by regional legislatures.<\/p>\n
The government-sponsored bill, while it also includes direct
\nelections, restricts the authority of regional administrations to
\nunilaterally exploit natural resources and to issue bylaws.<\/p>\n
The result of the closed-door meeting was a victory for Hari,
\nwho had been pushing for the government's bill to be included in
\nthe debate.<\/p>\n
The legislators had earlier insisted on deliberating their
\ndraft before moving onto the government's.<\/p>\n
Teras of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\nsaid different factions of the House would aim for a consensus
\nwhen debating the drafts.<\/p>\n
During the debate, the House's special committee would hear
\nfrom autonomy experts and local policy makers, he said.<\/p>\n
The revision of the autonomy laws is a top priority of the
\ncurrent House, which will complete its term in August.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-debates-autonomy-laws-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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