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)