Decentralization long overdue: Nored scholars

Decentralization long overdue: Nored scholars

JAKARTA (JP): Two leading scholars welcomed President
Soeharto's remarks that Indonesia should reassess the role of the
central government and give more autonomy to the regions, but
they said that decentralization is long overdue.

Historian Taufik Abdullah even pointed out that the current
set up of the government has virtually eliminated the traditional
administrative structures in some regions and runs counter to the
1945 Constitution.

Political scientist Miriam Budiardjo said Indonesia needs to
speed up the changes that have been officially acknowledged as
necessary, including decentralization.

President Soeharto on Tuesday said Indonesia needs to rethink
the role of the government because there is no more room for a
centralistic administration in a world that is rapidly changing.

Overt centralization of the government could also stunt the
growth of creativity and initiatives in society, Soeharto said
during a speech at the National Resilience Institute.

"Decentralization is a political, economic and social
necessity," Taufik told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

"Excessive centralization could eventually threaten national
unity," he added.

Miriam said that given that the necessity for decentralization
has been acknowledged by President Soeharto, she was optimistic
that "some day the President's idea will come true."

She recalled that last month's decision to reduce the number
of seats reserved for the Armed Forces at the House of
Representatives came from an idea that was launched three years
ago. "I raised the idea in 1992, and now there is some progress
to this effect," she said.

The House last month enacted the bill that reduced the
military seats in the House from 100 to 75, leaving 425 to be
contested by the three political organizations at the general
election. The reduction will take effect after the 1997 polls.

Miriam warned that in the case of decentralizing the
government, Indonesia might need to speed things up. "The young
generation is impatient because changes are very slow here."

The government in April launched a trial run of regional
autonomy, giving greater authority and responsibility to 26
selected regency administrations. The project runs for two years
and if successful, will be implemented nationwide.

The project itself is long overdue as it is based on a
legislation enacted as far back as 1974.

Miriam and Taufik believe that the delay has been caused by
national trauma caused by the bitter experiences of dealing with
regional revolts in the 1950s.

Reluctance

Taufik, however, said the reluctance in giving the regions
greater autonomy has been costly to the nation. "The most
devastating effect is that the current structure has blunted the
regions of new ideas and initiatives."

He cited as an example that various national awards are given
using yardsticks set by the central government.

"Recipients of awards, such as the Parasamya Purnakarya
Nugraha which are given to regional administrations in
recognition for their development efforts, are given to those
which can best interpret the standards of the central
government."

Taufik saw an opportunity to restore some of the previously
existing traditional administrative structures through the
current trial run of the regional autonomy program.

"Part of the traditional structures should be returned to
regions while the central administration retains some general
authority," he said.

Ironically, he noted that the current form of regional
administrations, all the way down to village-level offices, have
been brought into uniformity by the 1974 law on regional
autonomy.

This is contrary to the spirit of the 1945 Constitution which
recognizes traditional structures within the unitary state, such
as the nagari in Minangkabau and the traditional rights, he said.

The Minangkabau is the dominant ethnic group in West Sumatra.

The 1974 law overlooked traditional differences between
village structures in Java and Maluku, Taufik said citing an
example. "Villages are in disarray because the structures ruled
in the 1974 law are more appropriate to villages in Java," he
added. (anr)