State Policy Guidelines offers progress but leave gaps<\/p>\n
By Sri Wahyuni<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) last
\nnight endorsed the 1998\/2003 State Policy Guidelines, the
\nblueprint for national development over the next five years.<\/p>\n
Drafted by the ruling Golkar faction before Indonesia plunged
\ninto severe economic crisis last year, the policy guidelines
\npromise progress, are full of hope, but also contain gaps
\ninviting criticism.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP) have said that the
\nGuidelines do not give adequate attention to the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Another critic, business tycoon Probosutedjo, said that unless
\nsomething was done to reverse the crisis in the next few months,
\nsocial unrest would result.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, those who believed the document to be
\nsufficient argued that the crisis had been \"implicitly\" discussed
\nin chapter IV and the conclusion, which describe the challenges,
\nand obstacles facing the country in the near future.<\/p>\n
Some of the proponents dismissed the criticism, arguing
\ninstead that the economic crisis, which has brought the economy
\nto a standstill and rendered millions unemployed, was \"technical\"
\nin nature.<\/p>\n
As such, it should not be discussed in the broad guidelines on
\nstate policy. If included, the document would have to be renamed
\nthe \"narrow guidelines on state policy\", they said.<\/p>\n
The State Policy Guidelines have received praise from the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which deliberated the
\ndocument in the first stage of the General Session, held between
\nNov. 1997 and Jan. 1998.<\/p>\n
The second stage, now taking place, endorses the document and
\nelects a president and vice president.<\/p>\n
Many legislators in the Assembly agree that the document is
\nprogressive compared to the previous six policy guidelines
\nendorsed during the New Order administration.<\/p>\n
At least five new sections have been introduced in this year's
\nguidelines: Two new sectors on economic development policy, two
\non legal development policy, and a fifth section is devoted to
\npeople's welfare, education and cultural development.<\/p>\n
The new guidelines on economic development policy separate
\nland affairs and investment, not the case in the 1992\/1993 State
\nGuidelines.<\/p>\n
Specific arrangements are considered necessary for land use
\npolicy due to limited land availability and a growing population.<\/p>\n
The land affairs section addresses how the new government
\nshould manage land ownership and spatial planning, and develop
\nadequate legislation to enforce land management policies. Use of
\nGeographical Information Systems (GIS) is also given special
\nmention.<\/p>\n
Forest<\/p>\n
Economic development is divided into 20 different sections.<\/p>\n
In addition to land affairs and investment, the document
\ndiscusses development of industry, agriculture, cooperatives,
\ntrade, manpower, transportation, tourism, mining, energy,
\nforestry, rural development, transmigration, finance, marine
\nresources, the space program and the environment.<\/p>\n
Particular emphasis is made of the need to exploit natural
\nresources sustainably, so that both present and future
\ngenerations can benefit from these resources.<\/p>\n
Forestry developments should proceed in a way consistent with
\nimproving the role of the domestic industry, increase value-added
\nproduction and creating new jobs. Mining activities should bring
\nimproved welfare and development around mine sites.<\/p>\n
On energy development, the policy guidelines undertake to
\nguarantee self-sufficiency. Efforts to develop and maintain
\nenergy resources, diversify and economize on energy use, and
\nincrease the use of renewable energy resources should be
\nenhanced.<\/p>\n
The importance of funding development from the nation's own
\nresources is stressed. Foreign resources should be treated as
\ncomplimentary.<\/p>\n
Government fund raising and saving should be undertaken within
\nthe framework of balanced and dynamic fiscal policies.<\/p>\n
Public saving is to be improved through monetary policies
\nwhich guarantee the stability of the rupiah, boost economic
\ngrowth and promote efficient financial and banking institutions.<\/p>\n
The Guidelines give great attention to efforts to boost
\ninvestment. The need to mobilize funds, both locally and from
\nabroad, to boost investment activities is acknowledged, as is the
\nneed for a liquid, transparent and efficient stock market.<\/p>\n
Deregulation, a reduction in bureaucracy and consistently
\nimplemented macroeconomic policies are needed to create a more
\ntransparent and healthy business and investment climate.<\/p>\n
Rights<\/p>\n
The new Guidelines place Human Rights and Legal Culture in two
\nnew sections under legal development policy.<\/p>\n
Ary Mardjono, a Golkar representative at deliberations of the
\ndraft guidelines, said that the two new sections had been
\nintroduced to accommodate demands for human rights promotion and
\nthe important role of law in the future.<\/p>\n
The inclusion of human rights follows an intense debate last
\nyear over whether a separate Assembly decree was needed on the
\nissue, or if inclusion of human rights in the Guidelines was
\nsufficient.<\/p>\n
The next general election, in 2002, should \"more actively
\ninvolve\" the contesting political parties, especially in the
\nplanning, organization and supervision of polling. These
\narrangements will apply at all levels of the community, in rural
\nand urban areas.<\/p>\n
This is expected to appease the frustration of the minority
\nIndonesian Democratic Party and United Development Party, who
\nhave for many years protested that the polling system placed them
\nat an unfair disadvantage.<\/p>\n
Progress<\/p>\n
Since 1968, President Soeharto's New Order government have
\nworked around five-year national development plans, known as
\nRepelita. The government also run 25-year development plans,
\nknown as PJP.<\/p>\n
The 1998\/2003 State Guidelines is the second set of guidelines
\nwhich have discussed the 25 year plans. The main purpose of the
\nlong-term plans are to bring Indonesia toward the beginnings of a
\nprosperous, just and self-sufficient society based on the state
\nideology Pancasila.<\/p>\n
The Guidelines document consists of six chapters. The
\nintroduction defines the Guidelines and details the function,
\npurpose, basis and scope of the exercise.<\/p>\n
The second chapter explains national development. The third
\nchapter explains the second long-term development plan, PJP II.<\/p>\n
Chapters four and five explain the next five year development
\nplan, repelita VII, and how this plan will be carried out
\nrespectively. The final chapter concludes the document.<\/p>",
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