Cry for federalism rings out on Youth Pledge Day

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)