Rich provinces told to help poor ones<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
To ensure equal development in the country following the
\nimplementation of regional autonomy, President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri called on resource-rich provinces to help the rest.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sumatra governors
\nmeeting in Jambi on Wednesday, Megawati asked the provinces to
\nhelp each other to guarantee a fair distribution of wealth.<\/p>\n
\"Resources-rich provinces should help the less rich provinces,
\nso that all Indonesians have an equal chance of improving their
\nwelfare,\" the President said her speech.<\/p>\n
She said the implementation of regional autonomy should bring
\nequal prosperity across the country and should not widen the gap
\nbetween the rich and poor provinces.<\/p>\n
Since regional autonomy took effect on Jan. 1, 2001, Megawati
\nhas repeatedly said it could spark national disintegration and
\nunequal development in the country.<\/p>\n
Autonomy provides more rights for each province and bigger
\nshares of revenues, especially from natural resources.<\/p>\n
However, in Indonesia not all provinces possess adequate
\nnatural resource potential, relying on financial support from the
\ncentral government.<\/p>\n
In her speech the President renewed her call on the provinces
\nto take advantage of regional autonomy to reduce dependency on
\nJakarta and carry out their responsibilities.<\/p>\n
\"We should all be aware that regional autonomy not just
\nprovides more rights for the regions to control themselves, but
\nalso bears more responsibility.\"<\/p>\n
Megawati's visit to Jambi was greeted by student rallies. They
\ndemanded the President step down over her unpopular policy to
\nincrease utility fares.<\/p>\n
Megawati has canceled all planned visits to several provinces
\nas anti-government protests escalate.<\/p>\n
In her speech, Megawati apologized for the cancellations
\nsaying the worsening political situation required her presence in
\nthe capital.<\/p>\n
\"I am sorry, but as you all know that the country's situation
\nneeds special attention to prevent the worst.\"<\/p>\n
The two-day event in Jambi was aimed at increasing cooperation
\namong provinces in Sumatra and to find more concrete economic
\ncooperation to develop the regions.<\/p>\n
Sumatra's provinces planned to build an airline company and a
\njoint promotion board to lure both domestic and foreign investors
\nto the island.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rich-provinces-told-to-help-poor-ones-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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