Legislators call for regional autonomy to avoid disintegration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Regional representatives at the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) urged the government on Friday to
\nimplement regional autonomy to minimize the threat of national
\ndisintegration and separatist activities.<\/p>\n
Representing West Kalimantan in the highest legislative body,
\nOesman Sapta said the current centralistic governmental system
\nwas suspect due to its inability to provide an equal distribution
\nof wealth, as well as welfare improvements.<\/p>\n
\"The tense political situation in several provinces,
\nespecially Aceh, Riau, West Kalimantan and Irian Jaya is in fact
\nan expression of people's dissatisfaction with the centralistic
\ngovernment system,\" he said on Friday.<\/p>\n
He warned that more provinces would become restless if the
\ngovernment remained unresponsive to the issue.<\/p>\n
He said the Forum of Regional Representatives was deeply
\nconcerned with the political situation and would organize a
\nseminar to discuss the federal state system in an effort to
\nrespond to the issue.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the seminar's organizing committee Assembly member
\nLaode said keynote speakers at the day-long seminar scheduled for
\nDec. 7 would be Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, who is a key
\nproponent of the idea of federalism, Minister for Regional
\nAutonomy Affairs Ryaas Rasyid and Ismail Sunni, a constitutional
\nlaw expert from the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Laode said that apart from the Assembly's 135 regional
\nrepresentatives, all provincial legislative councils had
\nexpressed an intention to send delegations to the seminar.<\/p>\n
Separately in Yogyakarta, Anhar Gonggong, a historian from the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, said in a discussion on national defense
\nissues that even if a federal state was adopted, nationalism
\nwould remain a relevant sentiment in maintaining national unity.<\/p>\n
\"What does nationalism really mean? Bhineka Tunggal Ika (unity
\nin diversity). Despite the nation's differences in race,
\nethnicity, language and culture, the people are united.<\/p>\n
\"Federalism has actually been aired in an effort to maintain
\nthis diversity,\" he said. (44\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-call-for-regional-autonomy-to-avoid-disintegration-1447893297",
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