Power to the people?<\/p>\n
Looking back at all that transpired in the country in 2001,
\nmost people would agree that the implementation of regional
\nautonomy is one of the most thorny issues to have occurred during
\nthe past year. Designed to end the evils of centralized regimes
\nof the New Order, regional autonomy is also aimed at maintaining
\nthe unitary state of Indonesia, which is being endangered by a
\nfew rebellious provinces.<\/p>\n
Two laws, Law No. 22\/1999 on regional administration and Law
\nNo. 25\/1999 on fiscal balance, were enacted on Jan. 1, 2001, to
\naccommodate the aspirations of regions which had complained that
\nfor decades they had been plundered by the central government.<\/p>\n
To begin with, there is nothing wrong with the concept of
\nregional autonomy, and some may have even thought that its
\nimplementation was long overdue. In a vast archipelago with more
\nthan 200 million people and some 200 ethnic groups and a
\npluralistic society, it was a hard job maintaining a centralized
\ngovernment in a democratic system. The 1997 crisis saw a
\nsuccession of weak governments and, for the first time ever,
\npeople grew more independent from the central government. From
\nthe regional view, the central government was increasingly seen
\nas an oppressor, and some provinces such as Aceh, Riau and Irian
\nJaya rebelliously aspired to break ties with Jakarta.<\/p>\n
To deal with this demand, regional autonomy was introduced.
\nThe most interesting thing is, although laws No. 22\/1999 and No.
\n25\/1999 address most regional complaints on economic matters,
\nJakarta has deliberately ignored certain political grievances
\nthat are also sources of regional discontent. For example, the
\ncentral government has ignored demands by the Acehnese to bring
\nto court high-ranking military officers accused of repeatedly
\nviolating human rights during military operations since the early
\n1990s.<\/p>\n
It is understandable then that many analysts believe the two
\nlaws were hastily conceived by the administration of president
\nB.J. Habibie not only to ride on the coattails of the reform
\nmovement, but also to divert public attention away from the human
\nrights violations that occurred during the days of the Soeharto
\nregime.<\/p>\n
Indeed, by any account the implementation of regional autonomy
\nhas a staggering magnitude. For example, at least 15 government
\nregulations and 117 presidential decrees should have been
\nintroduced to regulate various sectors, including mining,
\neducation, health, taxation, forestry and fee collection. Yet
\nnone were enacted in January 2001. Some two million civil
\nservants were to be transferred to regional governments after
\nregional autonomy was implemented. Knowing the level of
\ncapability of the current bureaucracy, who believed that it could
\nbe done right away?<\/p>\n
With such poor preparation, it is little wonder that as soon
\nas regional autonomy was implemented, bureaucratic chaos
\nfollowed. With no clear-cut guidelines, many regional officials
\ntook the liberty of making their own interpretations of the two
\nlaws. There have been reports of regents who refused to
\nacknowledge the authority of provincial governors; certain
\nregents have been known to parcel out forest land and mining
\nrights to the highest bidder, thus causing serious environmental
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
Some regents and mayors were so enthusiastic about collecting
\nfees that businessmen decried what they called \"problematic
\nregional regulations\" because not only is it against prevailing
\nlaws, but also because of the various absurdities. For example,
\none company complained about having to pay parking fees for its
\nvehicles even when they were parked in its factory compound.<\/p>\n
Some rich regions reportedly used their newfound wealth and
\nrevenue for lavish expenditures. There are provinces that started
\nto establish their own aviation companies, and several governors
\nare known to have procured helicopters for official use. There
\nare also many tales of massive corruption in some regions.<\/p>\n
But what most people fear is the rise of ethnonationalism.
\nFollowing ethnic conflict in various provinces in the last
\nseveral years, there have been calls by some local people to
\nreject settlers from different ethnic groups.<\/p>\n
Excesses are bound to happen with any newfound \"freedom\". But
\ncommon sense tells us to straighten up and clean any mess caused
\nby the shortcomings of laws and regulations and to put everything
\nin order.<\/p>\n
For one thing, we have to first to return to the key question:
\nWhat are the main goals and aims of regional autonomy?<\/p>\n
Apart from the goal to solve the fiscal imbalance between the
\nregions and the central government, regional autonomy is also
\nintended to empower the people and to democratize the government.
\nWith regional autonomy, it is expected that the people will be
\ngiven a greater say in how they want to develop their own
\npotentials.<\/p>\n
What has happened thus far is that regional autonomy has
\nindeed given power to the regions. But, as it turns out, most of
\nthe people to have benefited from autonomy is regional officials,
\nwho, as many allege, have abused their new power to amass wealth,
\nwhile nothing much has changed for the common people.<\/p>\n
No wonder many regents reject plans to revise Law No. 22\/1999
\nand Law No. 25\/1999. But regional officials should remember that
\nif they feel they were unfairly treated in the past, it is also
\nunfair if autonomy causes new injustices. Not all regions are
\nrich in resources, and therefore all national wealth and
\nresources should be fairly shared, not only for the present
\ngeneration but also for future generations. Otherwise, there will
\nbe new discontent if poor regions are left behind in development.<\/p>\n
We have committed ourselves to regional autonomy and there can
\nbe no turning back. But as we embrace democracy, we also have to
\naccept that our ultimate concern must be putting the interests of
\nthe people first, by sharing, by tolerance, by sustaining and by
\nnation-building.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/power-to-the-people-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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