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)