Govt shuns call for regional law revision

Kurniawan Hari and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta/Cirebon

Ignoring public demand for an amendment to Regional Administration Law No. 32/2004, the government has insisted that it will issue a regulation to justify its involvement in the direct election of the heads of regental governments.

Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf said the ministry was finishing the draft regulation, the issuance of which is mandated in the Regional Administration Law.

"We are continuing our preparations for the regental elections. The public's demand for a revision can be discussed later," he told a hearing with House of Representatives Commission II for home and regional autonomy affairs on Monday.

The minister was responding to calls from the public and legislators that the law be revised before regental elections took place.

Law No. 32/2004 authorizes the central government to issue a regulation covering guidelines and detailed procedures on the regental elections.

The Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) said the law needed revising or otherwise, regental elections would be prone to abuse and manipulation involving the central government.

"It must be the General Elections Commission (KPU), not the government, that issues the guidelines," Cetro deputy director Hadar N. Gumay said on Monday.

Hadar cited the experience under the New Order, when the home ministry organized and determined the results of elections.

The role of the home ministry, as the central government's representative, must be reduced to ceremonial duties to prevent corruption and collusion, he said.

A number of legislators also questioned the role of the central government in the regental elections.

Legislator Ryaas Rasyid of the Democratic Pioneer Star (BPD) faction said the regulations on regental elections contained inconsistencies.

Ryaas said the KPU was able to organize a peaceful general elections and the presidential election. "Why is the KPU not involved in the regental elections also?"

Meanwhile, Mahfuz Shidiq of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) suggested that the government pay more attention to public demands.

According to the home ministry, the terms of 224 governors, mayors and regents will end in 2005, and the heads of regional governments for the 2005-2010 period will be elected directly.

The home minister estimates Rp 800 billion (US$88 million) will be needed for the regental elections next year.

Separately, the Regency Administrations' Association (Apkasi) expected that the central and provincial governments to contribute to the regental elections.

Dedi Supardi, chairman of Apkasi West Java, said each election would cost Rp 20 billion.

According to him, the four regencies and one city in West Java to hold elections next year are: the regencies of Indramayu, Bandung, Karawang and Sukabumi, and the city of Depok.

Indramayu Regent Irianto Syafiudin said his administration could only allocate Rp 5 billion for the election.