Unitary vs federal systems sized up<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Aceh wants a referendum, East Kalimantan and
\nRiau a federal system and Irian Jaya is seeking outright
\nindependence. Most other provinces want to keep the present
\nunitary system of government, albeit with greater regional
\nautonomy.<\/p>\n
A seminar on the unitary versus federal systems of government
\nbrought together representatives of all the provinces in Jakarta
\non Tuesday. The gathering ended with divergent views on how to
\naddress the growing regional discontent which many agreed could
\nlead to the breakup of the country.<\/p>\n
Those demanding the most drastic changes were from resource-
\nrich provinces such as Aceh, home to a huge natural gas industry,
\nRiau, which produces most of the country's crude oil, East
\nKalimantan, a major producer of oil and gas, and timber, and
\nIrian Jaya, with abundant copper, gold, silver and timber.<\/p>\n
The demand for independence in Aceh and Irian Jaya has also
\nbeen fanned by outrage at atrocities committed by the military.<\/p>\n
Aceh Governor Syamsudin Machmud said the Acehnese lost all
\ntrust in the government's ability to uphold justice.<\/p>\n
\"Their patience has run out. They demand to be allowed to hold
\na self-determination vote.\"<\/p>\n
He said Aceh was unfairly treated despite national recognition
\nof its contribution to the country's independence struggle in the
\n1940s.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the East Kalimantan Legislative Council Sukardi
\nJawo Putro said his province had officially proposed to become a
\nstate under a federal system of government, a move which would
\nenable it to have full control over its natural resources.<\/p>\n
\"It is ironic that most people in our province still live in
\npoverty despite the abundant deposits of oil and gas and forestry
\nresources. Our natural resources have been exploited for the
\ncentral government's interests. It's time we get what we
\ndeserve.\"<\/p>\n
Jimny Ijie, a delegate from Irian Jaya, or West Papua as
\nlocals prefer to call their homeland, said people in his province
\nhave rejected the offer of sweeping autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"West Papuans don't care about the system of government. A
\nmore important question is whether the government is committed to
\nimprove the social welfare of the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais
\nsaid in his keynote address that a federal system could prevent
\nthe disintegration of the country.<\/p>\n
\"Only with the federal state can we defend national unity,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Head of the 135-member Regional Representatives Forum Oesman
\nSapta said that given the growing aspirations for a federal
\nsystem, the People's Consultative Assembly should look into the
\noption when it convenes in August.<\/p>\n
Once considered a taboo subject, federalism has recently been
\nwidely debated as the nation searches for alternative solutions
\nto deal with the perceived threat of national disintegration.
\nMany parties, including the government and the military, reject
\nfederalism.<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta Governor Hamengku Buwono X warned the nation
\nagainst experimenting with the federal system, saying it could
\nlead to even more devastating consequences.<\/p>\n
\"Many areas will form states base on ethnicity or religion. We
\nwill have states of Pasundan, Java, Batak and Toraja. They will
\ndemand independence and Indonesia will collapse,\" he said during
\nthe gathering.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military's Chief of Territorial Affairs, Agus
\nWijaya, said federalism would not right the wrongs of the past.<\/p>\n
\"We are committed to the unitary system. What we have to do is
\nto correct the faults,\" he said.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Regional Autonomy Affairs Ryaas Rasyid said
\nthe new law that offers sweeping autonomy to the regions should
\nbe given the chance to work first before the country looked at
\nalternative systems.<\/p>\n
Under the law, the regional administrations will be in control
\nof everything except four areas -- monetary, foreign policy,
\ndefense and the judiciary -- which will be managed by the central
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
He said the country should only move toward a federal system
\nof government if it was overwhelmingly supported by the country's
\n200 million people. \"We should hold a national referendum on the
\nissue,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, about 100 members of the Young Generation of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) staged a
\ndemonstration opposing the federal system of government.<\/p>\n
They also criticized Amien Rais for supporting federalism.
\n(44\/har\/edt\/rms)<\/p>",
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