Autonomy 'nonsupportive' of democratization

Autonomy 'nonsupportive' of democratization

JAKARTA (JP): The planned implementation of regional autonomy
will not necessarily help democracy to flourish in regions due to
centralized judicial and political systems, an observer said on
Tuesday.

Political analyst Arbi Sanit told a seminar on regional
autonomy held by the Indonesian Muslim League at the Jakarta
Hilton Hotel that there would be no division of power, the
essence of democracy, in provinces.

All provincial and district judges in provinces and regencies
are appointed by the central government and are not responsible
to the local council, Arbi said.

Centralization is also a common practice among political
parties, in which almost all of a party's local chapters rely
heavily on their central executive board.

"There is no check and balance system required for a
democratization process in the regions," Arbi remarked.

Political scientist Andi A. Mallarangeng proposed that the
government adopt the district system in the next general election
in order to promote independent political parties.

"The district system will create local politicians who defend
their regions during hearings at the House of Representatives,"
Andi said.

Andi, who is also an assistant to the state minister of
regional autonomy, blamed slow enforcement of the law on regional
autonomy in some ministries that appeared reluctant to lose some
of their "profitable jobs".

He believed if regional autonomy was implemented, a discussion
about unitary or federal systems would no longer be important.

But Arbi retorted Andi's view, saying that the unitary system
chosen by the country tends to revive the centralization of
power.

He renewed his view that a federal system is more suitable for
regional autonomy since the regions which have the power give
some authority to the central government.

An independence leader from Riau, Tabrani Rab, rejected the
autonomy offer.

"The law is no different than other laws. The law has become
very messy since this country was founded," insisted Tabrani in
the seminar, saying that he demanded a federal state or
independence.

According to Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy, provinces
and regencies have authority in five fields: fiscal, monetary,
law, religion affairs and defense.

The province of Aceh, with its special characteristics and
demand for independence, is allowed to apply Islamic law. (jun)