Revision to law on regional autonomy on track<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government is forging ahead with its plan to
\nrevise the law on regional autonomy, a statute which has given
\nrise to many new and difficult issues, especially regarding the
\nrelationship between the central government and regional
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said the revision of Law
\nNo. 22\/1999 was aimed at providing a realistic and consistent
\nlegal basis for the decentralization process.<\/p>\n
\"The revision of the law is designed to create legal
\nconsistency so as to help ensure the success of its
\nimplementation,\" Hari said at a hearing with the House of
\nRepresentatives here on Monday.<\/p>\n
Problems arising in connection with the implementation of the
\nlaw were highlighted during the hearing. Provincial governors,
\nand even the central government, were often powerless to control
\nthe actions of the regents and mayors, who hold significant
\npowers under the law.<\/p>\n
A House member gave as an example the fact that several
\nregents in Riau province had undertaken so-called comparative
\nstudies in the United States even though such studies had no
\nsignificant relevance to the development of their regions.<\/p>\n
Responding to the issue of the comparative studies conducted
\nby the Riau regents, Hari said that his department had received
\nreports about this but had no authority to ban them from going
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
\"They have the money. We cannot ban them from going abroad to
\nundertake comparative studies,\" said Hari, adding that it was the
\nresponsibility of regional legislative council members to control
\nthose regional chief executives who were abusing the public trust
\nplaced in them.<\/p>\n
Hari said that the regional autonomy law amendment bill would
\ngive governors the authority to oversee the activities of the
\nregents and mayors in their respective jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
The central government frequently receives complaints from the
\nregions in connection with the election of regional chief
\nexecutives, with the supporters of the defeated candidates often
\nlodging protests with the central government alleging rigged
\nelections.<\/p>\n
Commenting on such complaints, Hari stressed that under the
\nregional autonomy law, the regions had the right to elect their
\nown leaders.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the central government expected the leaders
\nin the provinces to be able to resolve their own problems.<\/p>\n
\"The regions should not return such problems to the central
\ngovernment. They should be able to resolve their own problems.
\nOtherwise, regional autonomy will be meaningless,\" said Hari.<\/p>\n
Hari also said that the government was studying the articles
\nof the regional autonomy law which were difficult to implement,
\nincluding those on maritime jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
These articles presented difficulties for fishermen as they
\nwere not allowed to enter the territorial water of a neighboring
\njurisdiction unless they held the required permits.<\/p>\n
Hari said the draft of the revised law was scheduled to be
\nsubmitted to the House of Representatives for deliberation in
\nNovember.<\/p>\n
\"I stress here that the revision of the law is not aimed at
\ncreating a centralized government as feared in certain circles,\"
\nhe said, adding that the revision would be undertaken through the
\namendment of those articles of the law whose implementation had
\nsparked controversy.<\/p>\n
Other aspects to be revised included the form and structure of
\nregional administrations, basic concepts of decentralization, the
\nduties of regional councils and the rights of governors as
\nregards supervision, and conflicts between regions. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/revision-to-law-on-regional-autonomy-on-track-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}