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