Full autonomy in Aceh and Irian still 'long way off'

Full autonomy in Aceh and Irian still 'long way off'

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Full implementation of special autonomy in the strife-torn
provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya still has a long way to go as
the government has yet to issue guidelines for autonomy laws
granting special status to the two provinces, a Cabinet minister
says.

Minister for Home Affairs Hari Sabarno told reporters in
Jakarta on Friday that the central government has to issue
implementation guidelines so that autonomy laws for Aceh and
Irian Jaya can be implemented as soon as possible.

Hari said the government has to issue seven regulations for
Irian Jaya and 24 for Aceh.

"Deliberations on those implementation guidelines are still
going on, but it will take time because we have to hold
interdepartmental discussions first, especially where regulations
are related to political matters," Hari said.

He did not say how long it would take the government to draft
those implementation guidelines.

In a bid to assuage the Aceh and Papuan people, who have long
fought for a separate state from Indonesia, President Megawati
Soekarnoputri enacted autonomy laws for Aceh and Irian Jaya in
July and November respectively.

The special autonomy laws, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2002,
provide the legal basis for the two provinces to have greater
control over the regions' economy, politics and security, as well
as the cultural and religious life of the people.

The laws cover revenue sharing for the oil and gas sector,
where the regions are to receive 70 percent, the freedom to set
up a people's council, freedom to have their own anthem and flag
along with the Indonesian national anthem and flag, and the
implementation of Syariah or Islamic law in Aceh.

Hari said the implementation of special autonomy in Aceh and
Irian Jaya was currently limited to financial matters.

"The current implementation of autonomy law in the two
provinces covers financial matters such as revenue sharing of the
oil and gas sector in addition to the general allocation fund,"
Hari said after meeting Megawati.

"The right to have their own anthem, flag, cultural department
and other political matters, needs separate government
regulations or presidential decrees," he added.

On Irian Jaya's name, Hari said either Irian Jaya or Papua was
legally acceptable as the name for the province.

"Legally, we can still use either of the two names," the
minister remarked.

Separately, Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh said on Friday that
the provincial council would finish the discussion on 24 bylaws
to implement the special autonomy law of Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam.

"The 24 bylaws will deal with, among other things, revenue
sharing, security, and syariah. The regulations are scheduled to
be issued this month," Abdullah said after meeting the President
at the State Palace.

Abdullah said he also asked the President that the revenue
sharing should go directly to the 2002 province budget.

"We calculated that Aceh could provide around Rp 4 trillion
per year for the government from the oil and gas sector alone and
the province will have 70 percent of the profit to rebuild Aceh,"
Abdullah said.