'Ignorance causes aggro between provinces'

'Ignorance causes aggro between provinces'

The lack of understanding of regional autonomy has caused provincial conflict, said Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno here on Saturday.

"Conflicts between provinces had emerged because of local regulations, which are not in line with the spirit of the unitary state. That is why the President has reminded us that regional autonomy is a way to bring about a prosperous Indonesia," Hari said at the closing of talks held between the central government and provincial and regency administrations.

At the opening of the dialog on Friday President Megawati Soekarnoputri asked governors and regents across the country to stop questioning the government's sincerity in offering autonomy. She also said that polemics on the regional autonomy should stop.

The government is planning to revise Law No 22/1990 on regional autonomy, which has drawn different interpretations.

"The plan to revise the law has elicited mixed reactions. In fact, the implementation of regional autonomy has run its natural course. We will make improvements if we find problems," he said as quoted by Antara.

He added that revising the law would aim to stop conflict from arising between the provinces.