Provinces administrations demand right to exploit natural resource<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Provincial administrations have demanded that the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) maintain clauses in the existing autonomy
\nlegislation that allow them to exploit natural resources,
\nespecially maritime ones.<\/p>\n
They also proposed that provincial police fall under the
\nauthority of the governor.<\/p>\n
The demands were raised by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso on
\nWednesday in his capacity as chairman of the Association of
\nProvincial Administrations in Indonesia (APPSI) during a meeting
\nwith the House special committee in charge of deliberating
\nrevisions to the regional autonomy legislation.<\/p>\n
Other APPSI members in attendance included Yogyakarta Governor
\nSultan Hamengku Buwono X, North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin,
\nEast Java Governor Imam Utomo, Central Java Deputy Governor Ali
\nMufiz, as well as regional autonomy expert Andi Mallarangeng.<\/p>\n
\"The revisions must clearly state that a regional
\nadministration be given the authority to exploit natural
\nresources in its jurisdiction,\" Sutiyoso told the meeting,
\npresided over by Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa of the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
Article 20 of the government-sponsored draft revisions to Law
\nNo. 22\/1999 on regional administration says regional governments
\n\"can be given\" the authority, within certain limits and sectors,
\nto exploit natural resources and marine assets.<\/p>\n
Details of this stipulation will be made operational in a
\ngovernment regulation, the law says.<\/p>\n
The governors, Sutiyoso said, demanded that the regional
\nadministrations \"have the right\" to exploit the resources, as the
\nword \"can\" is not imperative.<\/p>\n
The territory of a regency extends up to 4 miles from the
\ncoastline while that of a province is 4 miles to 12 miles from
\nthe coastline.<\/p>\n
The association also rejected a clause that gives the central
\ngovernment authority to evaluate regional budgets.<\/p>\n
\"I think the authority to assess regional budgets is too
\nexcessive. There should be only supervision,\" Sutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
Regarding the establishment of autonomous regions, Sutiyoso
\nsuggested that the move be discussed first with the public in the
\nregions concerned so that the delineation of the new regions
\nwould be acceptable.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the demands, legislator Alexander Litaay of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the proposal
\nto create \"regional\" police would simply spark rivalry between
\nregions and lead to national disintegration.<\/p>\n
Ferry Mursyidan Baldan of Golkar, meanwhile, suggested that
\nlawmakers learn from the experience of the United States in
\nendorsing the creation of \"regional\" police.<\/p>\n
Ferry said that conflicts existed between the state police and
\nfederal police in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Proposals from the provincial administrations
\n================================================================
\n1. Election of regional heads to be administered by Regional
\nElections Commissions (KPUDs).
\n2. Local administrations to be given authority to exploit natural
\nresources.
\n3. Central government to have no power to assess regional
\nbudgets.
\n4. Dismissal of regional heads to be set out in a separate
\ngovernment regulation.
\n5. Establishment of autonomous regions must be discussed with the
\npublic in the area concerned.
\n6. Provincial police to fall under supervision of the governor.
\n7. Association of Provincial Administrations should continue to
\nbe represented on the Advisory Council for Regional Autonomy
\n(DPOD).
\n=================================================================<\/p>",
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