Cry for federalism rings out on Youth Pledge Day
JAKARTA (JP): Mounting demands for a federal state marked the celebration of Youth Pledge Day across the country on Thursday.
Some 100 youths set up the National Committee for a Federal State (Konfed) and called on the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to amend the 1945 Constitution, which stipulates that the republic is a united, not federal, state.
Konfed chairman Abdul Hafid Paronda said the Assembly should not ignore the demand because the republican system failed to improve the people's welfare and maintain national unity in the past 50 years.
"The majority of the people are still living in poverty. This contradicts the values behind the youth pledge," he said in a ceremony for the committee's founding.
After declaring independence in 1945 and fighting a war against the returning Dutch colonial power, Indonesia briefly adopted a federal system from 1949 to 1950.
Inspired by the wave of nationalism which swept across colonized countries across the world, a group of youths gathered here 71 years ago to acknowledge they were of one country, nation and language despite their different origins. The event was one of the milestones in the nation's independence struggle.
Hafid said the substance of the pledge was in line with the founding of a federal state because it was aimed at obtaining national unity, common welfare and social justice.
"The socioeconomic gap from one region to another has a lot to do with the unfair implementation of the administrative system which has only benefited the central government."
He said his committee backed the recent proposal for a federal state from Amien Rais' National Mandate Party (PAN).
Political observer Eep Syaifulloh hailed the demand for a federal state, saying it was in line with the government's efforts to beef up regional autonomy as stipulated by the 1999 law on regional administration.
"Eighty percent of the law's content concerns regional autonomy," he said in a seminar commemorating Youth Pledge Day.
Rally
In Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, tens of thousands of students marked the day with rallies. Traffic jams clogged all areas of the city.
Two groups of students expressed different aims. Students from state Hasanuddin University demanded that the government establish a federal state but those from private universities and institutes insisted on an independent state for the province.
Deputy rector of Hasanuddin University Amran Razak said a federal state was a reasonable and plausible solution to safeguard national unity.
"The demand for independence is irrational and questionable because it will meet strong resistance from the government and other regions. A federal state could be the best solution," he said.
Students supporting an independent state tore down the national flag at several places, including Hasanuddin Airport, mayoralty office and Karebosi soccer field.
No injuries or arrests were reported in Thursday's protests. Police were out in force at several campuses as well as air and sea ports.
Sulawesi Military Commander Maj. Gen. Suaidy Marasabessy said on Wednesday that security forces would act leniently toward the students, terming their demands "political rhetoric".
"I think their demand is debatable on the level of interpretation, and therefore it's not related to security. That is why we're not taking any action against them," he said.
Unity
In Bandarlampung, Lampung, visiting Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri was greeted by students who protested the presence of generals in President Abdurrahman Wahid's Cabinet. They also urged the government to implement the federal system to prevent the concentration of power in the central government.
During the ceremony commemorating the youth pledge, Megawati called on people to work hard in maintaining national unity.
"The people are in an uncertain situation that is jeopardizing our national unity. The nation will collapse if its people and government do not work hand in hand in maintaining national unity," she said amid tight security from the Mobile Brigade Police.
Accompanying Megawati were defense minister Juwono Sudarsono, manpower minister Bomer Pasaribu and sports and youth affairs minister Mahadi Sinambela. The new Cabinet will be sworn in on Friday. (27/42/edt/rms)