Soeharto promises more local autonomy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government pledged yesterday to continue its
\ncampaign to delegate more authority to regency administrations,
\ndespite fears of national disintegration.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto made this clear while opening a seminar on
\nregional autonomy at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
He said that local authorities had to have more say in their
\ndevelopment affairs because they dealt directly with people. This
\nwould allow Jakarta to concentrate on strategic affairs.<\/p>\n
He brushed aside fears that greater autonomy would lead to
\ndisintegration, saying that the nation had reached a high level
\nof resilience.<\/p>\n
"The state (central government) will oversee the sectors of
\npolitical, economic, diplomatic and defense-security affairs,"
\nSoeharto told the 300 participants at the seminar.<\/p>\n
The seminar was organized by the alumni of the National
\nResilience Institute, a military think tank.<\/p>\n
The government launched a trial run in April 1995 for greater
\nregional autonomy in 26 selected regencies, including Sorong in
\nIrian Jaya and Aileu in East Timor, giving them a greater say in
\ntheir internal affairs.<\/p>\n
Under the program, most of regional matters previously handled
\nby the central government have been delegated to the 26
\nregencies.<\/p>\n
Indonesia comprises 27 provinces, 243 regencies and 77
\nmayoralties.<\/p>\n
Critics said the government has been slow to encourage
\nautonomy. Indonesia passed a law on regional autonomy in 1974.<\/p>\n
Local officials have complained that some ministries are
\nreluctant to share their power with regency administrations.<\/p>\n
Some ministries feared that regency administrations would have
\ntoo much independence once they obtained autonomy, critics said.<\/p>\n
"Larger and realistic autonomy is the right choice to maximize
\nIndonesia's natural and human resources," Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
He said that autonomy was likely to increase the quality,
\ninitiative and creativity of Indonesians. "And they will then be
\nable to face the challenges of an increasingly competitive
\nworld."<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Minister of Defense Edi Sudradjat told the
\nseminar that regional autonomy would be most effective at the
\nlevel of regencies and mayoralties.<\/p>\n
He said regencies and mayoralties were the smallest
\nadministrative units and dealt directly with development
\nprograms.<\/p>\n
"Only regencies and mayoralties know their own weaknesses and
\ncapacity," he said. "And only they know their people's needs."<\/p>\n
He said the more autonomy in regencies and mayoralties would
\ncut bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
"We have experienced communication distortions and delayed
\nimplementation of government policies and development programs
\n(because of red tape)," he said. (06\/imn)<\/p>",
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