Regional autonomy beginning of the end for Indonesia?<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Disputes sparked by conflicts of interest between the central
\ngovernment and regional administrations in connection with the
\nimplementation of regional autonomy early this year could
\nendanger national unity, analysts warn.<\/p>\n
\"The implementation of regional autonomy legislation could be
\nthe beginning of the end for the Republic of Indonesia, if the
\ndisputes continue,\" A.S. Hikam, a researcher from the National
\nInstitute of Sciences (LIPI), said at a seminar on regional
\nautonomy and regionalism over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Disputes have arisen out of a lack of mutual trust between the
\ncentral and regional governments, according to Hikam, who was a
\nresearch and technology minister under former president
\nAbdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Hikam said that the central government still feared losing its
\nauthority should the regional autonomy law be fully implemented
\nbecause, for many regional administrations, autonomy had become
\nan instrument for collecting as much income as possible.<\/p>\n
He explained that the implementation of regional autonomy
\nlegislation in many regions had also sparked divisive sentiment
\namong local leaders, who demanded that positions within their
\nadministrations be given to local indigenous people.<\/p>\n
\"If such sentiment is adopted overwhelmingly, ignoring the
\nnational context, it will become a boomerang that will be fatal
\nfor the integrity of our nation.<\/p>\n
\"With such a way of thinking and because of short-term
\ninterests, the regional autonomy law is no longer being
\nimplemented to empower the people and develop a united,
\nsovereign, just and prosperous nation,\" Hikam said.<\/p>\n
Hikam added that the situation is worsened by the less
\nconducive atmosphere of macropolitical conditions because of
\nongoing conflict among the political elite and horizontal
\nconflict among groups in several regions of the country.<\/p>\n
Andi Mallarangeng, former assistant to the state minister for
\nregional autonomy affairs, said regional autonomy would be able
\nto strengthen national unity if it were implemented in a proper
\nway.<\/p>\n
\"The problem is that regional autonomy was only implemented
\nhalf-heartedly. This can cause disappointment among many
\nregions,\" Andi told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He said closure of the office of state minister for regional
\nautonomy affairs indicated that the government did not consider
\nregional autonomy a priority.<\/p>\n
He also warned that the government's plan to revise the
\nregional autonomy law should not be aimed at reversing the
\ndecentralization program implemented since 2000.<\/p>\n
\"It is okay if revisions to the law are aimed at improving its
\nweaknesses but, for me, the most important thing the government
\nhas to do at present is draft supporting regulations to the law
\nthrough government regulations and presidential decrees,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
According to Andi, the absence of supporting regulations as
\nwell as adequate supervision from the central government has
\ncaused difficulties in the law's implementation.<\/p>\n
Hikam said, however, the government should go ahead with plans
\nto revise the law as long as adjustments touched on the
\nfundamental principles, especially the new way Indonesian people
\nviewed the spirit of nationalism.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regional-autonomy-beginning-of-the-end-for-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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