Euphoria of provincial status

Euphoria of provincial status

DENPASAR, Bali: A kind of euphoria has erupted among people
who are demanding provincial status for their areas but they have
not considered certain criteria required by the law, Minister of
Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Soerjadi Sudirdja said.

"They are just in euphoria. The law actually not only
regulates the enlargement of territory but also their unification
and termination," said Soerjadi after inaugurating the 10th
International Seminar on Land Readjustment and Urban Development
here.

He said that before a new province could be established,
certain requirements regarding territory, population and social
and economic potentials needed to be met.

He said that to become a province, the idea had to have been
approved by the mother province in more ways than just popular
support.

"The planned establishment of the Riau province was rejected
by the Riau governor and council, although it was supported by
the people," he said. (zen/jun)