Regional administration bill expected to be passed sonn<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legislators deliberating the bill on regional
\nadministration gave assurances on Tuesday that the much
\ncriticized draft submitted by the government would be democratic.<\/p>\n
Presidential approval for a gubernatorial candidate would no
\nlonger be needed -- only \"consultation\", legislators said.<\/p>\n
The legislators were members of the Special Committee of the
\nHouse of Representatives deliberating the bill, which wrapped up
\non Tuesday its public deliberation session of the bill.<\/p>\n
But committee chairman Chairuddin Harahap of the Golkar
\nfaction assured members of the public that they were still
\nwelcome to submit recommendations before the bill was passed on
\nApril 22. He also voiced regret over the lack of media coverage
\nof the bill's debate.<\/p>\n
Chairuddin and Alfian Darmawan of the United Development Party
\n(PPP) faction said the bill -- together with the bill on the
\nfiscal balances of central government and regional governments --
\nwould have wide-ranging consequences to democratization once
\npassed.<\/p>\n
Both legislators said that a major consequence of the bill
\nwould be a central government administration made smaller in the
\nnumber of its ministries and that regencies would become the new
\ncenter of development.<\/p>\n
Describing the past deliberation session in the 87-member
\ncommittee, Chairuddin and Alfian said it had run smoothly.<\/p>\n
They said the remaining problem would be the \"synchronization\"
\nof the bill with the fiscal balances bill, in which debates are
\nstill hot over stipulations on how much share of the state budget
\nwould be allotted to regional administrations.<\/p>\n
The new bills on regional autonomy and fiscal balance seek to
\nredress impacts over years of centralization. One of the impacts
\nis the demand for independence in a number of provinces.<\/p>\n
A low share of the state budget in resource-rich areas,
\ngovernment meddling in regional affairs such as the appointment
\nof officials favored by those in power, worsened by rights abuses
\nby the military contributed to built-up resentment in various
\nregions.<\/p>\n
\"There'll a tough debate coming,\" Alfian said, adding there
\nwould be clashes of central government aspirations and those of
\nthe regional governments.<\/p>\n
One issue would be \"whether we will use percentage (of how
\nmuch share of funding one province would get) or other parameters
\nto determine it\", Chairuddin said.<\/p>\n
Common ground<\/p>\n
On the issue of regional administration autonomy, Chairuddin
\nsaid the committee and the government -- represented by home
\nministry officials -- had reached some common ground.<\/p>\n
For instance, unlike existing law no. 5\/1974 on government
\nadministration which entitles the central government via the
\nminister of home affairs to appoint a regent or a mayor to a
\nregency or a mayoralty -- the bill will allow the process to be
\nconducted only by a regency's legislature.<\/p>\n
\"Without intervention of the central government,\" Chairuddin
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
Under the 1945 Constitution, a provincial administration would
\nremain the local representation of the central government,
\nChairuddin added.<\/p>\n
\"But it has been agreed that the governor will be appointed by
\nthe provincial legislature ... with consultation with the
\nPresident,\" he also said.<\/p>\n
Critics have said a number of clauses in the bill reflect
\nsimilar tendencies of government meddling in regional affairs,
\nsuch as, among other things, through a requirement that
\ncandidates for governor needed approval from the central
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Alfian also cited another agreement reached during the bill
\ndeliberation with the government, authorizing villages across the
\narchipelago to retain their own characteristics of village
\nadministration. The existing law calls for a uniformed
\nadministration at the village level among diverse communities.<\/p>\n
A recent congress of indigenous people discussed problems
\ncaused by the side-stepping of traditional power structures with
\nthe installment of such uniform village administrations.<\/p>\n
Alfian underscored wide-ranging regional autonomy, which he
\nsaid was basically targeted at empowering regency's
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
\"But the autonomy given must be accompanied by a bigger share
\nof funding from Jakarta,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chairuddin said eight governors and eight regents and
\nofficials of regional revenue agencies were among sources which
\nhad given input to the deliberation.<\/p>\n
In the coming days until April 13, two of the committee's
\nworking groups -- one working with the finance ministry and the
\nother with the home affairs ministry -- will be holding closed
\ndeliberations. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regional-administration-bill-expected-to-be-passed-sonn-1447893297",
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