Human resources development badly needed in regions<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz ordered on Wednesday the heads of
\nregional administrations to place greater emphasis on improving
\nhuman resources.<\/p>\n
"A job is waiting for the heads of regional administrations:
\nto improve the quality of human resources," Hamzah said, at the
\nopening of a seminar on regional autonomy here.<\/p>\n
Citing an overseas example, Hamzah said successful development
\nin Japan and Korea was not due to their natural resources, but
\nbecause they had improved the quality of their human resources.<\/p>\n
The two-day seminar was organized by the newly revived
\nRegional Faction at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and
\nthe Forum of Rectors in response to the revision of Law No.
\n22\/1999 on Regional Administration currently being drafted by the
\ncentral government.<\/p>\n
Hamzah said that to improve the quality of human resources,
\nthe government would no longer force a centralized approach for
\nfear of hampering creativity among the regions.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono also spoke at the seminar, suggesting that the
\nheads of the regional administrations should not take the
\nrevision as the main topic of discussion.<\/p>\n
The discussion should focus on broader issues on regional
\nautonomy, he said.<\/p>\n
"We have to assess the implementation of the regional autonomy
\nlaw," Susilo added.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno added that the
\ngovernment was serious in carrying out its decentralization
\npolicy in a bid to achieve two main goals -- empowering the
\npublic and improving public services in the regions.<\/p>\n
However, the minister reiterated that the implementation of
\ndecentralization had to be carried out in stages.<\/p>\n
The first stage, which took place from Jan. 1 through to Dec.
\n31 last year, was the policy's initiation period. It involved
\npreparing regulations, establishing the authority of various
\norganizations and their personnel.<\/p>\n
The second stage, which will take place from 2002 through to
\n2003, is devoted to installing the policy. This will involve
\nchanges and practical adjustments.<\/p>\n
The third stage, which will take place from 2004 through to
\n2007, will involve consolidating the installed mechanisms.<\/p>\n
The final stage will involve stabilization, which includes
\nevaluating decentralization.<\/p>\n
Hari added that to support the implementation of the regional
\nautonomy law, the government had issued 23 laws, 34 government
\nregulations, and 13 presidential decrees, since Jan 1, 2001.<\/p>\n
"There has also been the reassignment of 2.03 million civil
\nservants from the central government to regional administrations
\nthroughout the country.<\/p>\n
The government has also raised the funds allocated to regional
\nareas from Rp 81.47 trillion in 2001 to Rp 94.53 trillion in
\n2002.<\/p>\n
Hari, whose ministry is working out the revision to the
\nregional autonomy law, admitted there had been different
\ninterpretations between regional leaders and the central
\ngovernment concerning articles in the law.<\/p>\n
"The difference in opinion has caused a great deal of strife,"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Conflicting regulations:<\/p>\n
- Article 11 of Law No. 22\/1999 on Regional Administration gives
\nauthority to the regencies to manage investment.<\/p>\n
- Article 28 of Law No. 1\/1967 on Foreign Investment gives the
\ncentral government the mandate to approve investment.<\/p>\n
- Article 11 of Law No. 22\/1999 on Regional Administration also
\ngives authority to the regencies to manage agrarian affairs.<\/p>\n
- Presidential Decree No. 62\/2001 gives regional agrarian offices
\nthe mandate to manage agrarian affairs.<\/p>\n
- Presidential Decree No. 10\/2001 reinforces a ministerial decree
\non the centralized management of agrarian affairs until 2003.<\/p>\n
- Government Regulation No. 84\/2000 on the guidelines of the
\nestablishment of regional institutions. This has increased
\nexpenditure following the joining of some state institutions in
\nregional areas.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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