Autonomy beyond control

Autonomy beyond control

From Media Indonesia

The plan to replace Law No. 5/1974 on regional administrations
must be gladly responded to. One thing still causes concern,
though. If we read carefully the bill now being deliberated upon
and set for approval on April 9, 1999, we will come to the
conclusion that this will no longer be a law on regional
administration in a spirit of decentralization and wide-ranging
autonomy, but autonomy beyond control and federalism.

The sectors which will be handled by the central government
will encompass only defense and security, foreign relations,
monetary policies and the judicial system. With the exception of
these four sectors, all matters will be left to regional
administrations. So, how will this differ from a system of
federal government? Even in the United States of America, which
obviously adopts the principle of federalism, not all sectors are
left to the regions. The agricultural sector, for example, is
handled by the federal government. It is for this reason that
when the Arabian countries imposed their oil embargo, the U.S.
could retaliate with its wheat embargo. In essence, a sector very
strategic in terms of a country's economy must remain in the
hands of the central government.

In the case of Indonesia, we all agree that the form of the
state that we will maintain is that of a unitary state.
Therefore, sectors which bring about national unity and
integration must be maintained. Let's take two sectors as our
example, namely education and religion. The mission of education
is to educate the young generation so that it will have a vision
of nationalism and patriotism, human rights and Indonesian
culture on the basis of Pancasila as the state's ideology. If
education is left to the regional administrations, what will be
the future of this nation?

Religion also plays a similar role to education. Therefore, it
should not be left to the regional administrations. If religious
matters are left to the regional administrations, there will
emerge regional egotism in religious policies, a condition which
will bring about acute sectarianism. There could, therefore, be
an Islamic province (NU), an Islamic province (Muhammadiyah), a
Christian province, a Catholic province, a Hindu province and so
on.

Allow me to call on the House of Representatives to postpone
the ratification of the law on regional administration. Do not
force this to happen simply because of the target set, otherwise,
the product will be nothing but garbage. Do not sacrifice the
future of the nation simply to pursue narrow-minded and
individual interests. Do not fool the people who are
concentrating on the upcoming general election.

I wonder why newly established political parties keep quiet
about this bill on regional administration now being deliberated
upon by our legislators. They should know that this bill is of
strategic significance. Where are PDI of Struggle, PBB, PKP, PKB
and the other parties which wish to fight for the maintenance of
this unitary republic? Why don't they take action when this
unitary state is being threatened by the seeds of disintegration
and separatism through "the bill on autonomy beyond control"?

All must strive for the postponement of the ratification of
this bill. We must wait until the establishment of a House
resulting from the elections to ensure that the products of this
House will be acceptable to the entire people. Doesn't everybody
realize that the present House is not representative and is
devoid of legitimacy?

HADI SUPENO

Magelang, Central Java