Federalism debate sparks warnings

Federalism debate sparks warnings

JAKARTA (JP): Experts and military warned on Thursday of the
risks the nation would have to take if it constitutes a federal
state for the republic.

Without attempting to wage a campaign against mounting calls
for federalism, a noted sociologist from the University of
Indonesia, Imam Prasodjo, appealed to people across the country
to contemplate the possibility of social and ethnic
disintegration soon after a federal state is declared.

"In a multiethnic state like Indonesia, the implementation of
federalism would give rise to racial animosity," Imam said in a
discussion on the university campus.

He predicted a massive flow of migrants into wealthy states,
prompting, at the worst, conflict and clashes between them and
local people over sources of living.

"I have heard from some friends in North Sumatra that the
presence of Acehnese refugees in the regions has somehow aroused
an anti-Acehnese sentiment," he added.

The fact that not all provinces are blessed with natural
resources should become another consideration before establishing
a federal state, Imam said.

"How can provinces which lack natural resources survive?" Imam
said.

He suggested that the nation enhance solidarity, instead of
wasting too much time trading words about the fitting form of the
state.

"We don't even understand how wide-ranging autonomy offered by
the government differs from federalism," he said.

Following the fall of former president Soeharto in May last
year, the clamor for more power has been gaining ground in some
provinces.

The government has tried to accommodate the demand by issuing
the Law on Regional Autonomy and Law on Provincial Fiscal
Balance, which are expected to take effect in 2001 at the latest.

Another speaker at the discussion, National Military (TNI)
spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, said a federated state might not be
the best option on grounds that the country's founding fathers
had preferred a unitary state.

Sudrajat suspected that those who rejected the autonomy status
were propelled more by their emotions rather than their knowledge
on the benefits of the system.

"People don't understand the contents of the regional autonomy
law but they reject it right away," he said.

He suggested that people search for the core of national
disintegration problems before deciding on a solution.

Separately in Bandung, political observer Siswono Yudohusodo
warned that the federalism issue contained political interests,
while it was supposed to remain an academic debate.

"We should first concentrate on the implementation of Law No.
22/1999 on Regional Autonomy and see how it works. We haven't
even started to implement the law properly," Siswono said after
addressing a seminar on regional autonomy and land farming in the
West Javanese capital on Thursday.

The former minister of transmigration said Indonesia could
follow the success of France in adopting regional autonomy to
improve people's welfare.

Siswono, who is a member of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), criticized observers who raised ideas of federalism
without further elaboration.

"It has brought confusion among people, although the observers
may speak about federalism as a means to calm the independence
demand," he said.

Another MPR legislator and former minister of home affairs Lt.
Gen. (ret) Syarwan Hamid reiterated his support for federalism to
take shape in Indonesia, saying the long-standing unitary state
had failed to maintain the public's trust in the government.

"We failed to achieve equal justice and welfare for all
Indonesians as demanded by the Constitution. For many years
people have been disappointed by the government instead," he
said.

Syarwan said federalism would give more freedom and
opportunities for people to improve their standard of living.

"Let the people enjoy the richness of their land's natural
resources," he added.

He suggested that a change into a federal state should be run
peacefully. "We don't have to use force or weapons because it
would just add to people's sufferings," he said.

In Semarang, hundreds of students grouped under the
Association of Muslim Students (HMI) rallied at the provincial
legislature to demand that the government declare Indonesia a
federal state to avoid national disintegration. (04/edt)