Impoverished Kebumen ahead in good governance

On Jan. 1, 2001 Indonesia embarked on the gigantic task of giving the regions greater autonomy with the implementation of Law No. 22/1999 on regional administration and Law No. 25/1999 on fiscal balance. The two laws have provided an opportunity for self-governance for the regions, from province to regency and mayoralty, where, intrinsically, they have the final say on their own affairs.

After experiencing an over-centralistic and authoritarian government system under Soeharto's 32-years of rule, the regions today have become less dependent on central government directives. Jakarta hopes the new system is an effective response to mounting criticism and complaints, some of which have escalated to demands for a separate state in provinces like Aceh and Irian Jaya.

Under the new arrangement, regions rich in natural resources like East Kalimantan and Riau can expect better welfare because the local governments are entitled to much bigger portions from local revenue. Those living in poorer regions worry because they have to reduce their high dependence on the central government's financial support and raise their own income.

Whatever their condition, most regions are still euphoric about their new found freedom. Many, though, have simply been caught unprepared.

The Jakarta Post selected Kebumen regency, in Central Java, as an illustration of the perplexities of regional autonomy.

Economically, the region has eluded investors. About the only times Kebumen appears in national headlines is when natural disasters strike, like this year's floods and landslides.

Kebumen borders Banyumas and Cilacap regencies in the west, Purworejo and Wonosobo in the east, and Banjarnegara in the north. Its southern part faces the Indian Ocean.

With a population of 1.2 million, Kebumen covers 1,281 square kilometers and is the third poorest region among the 29 regencies and mayoralties in Central Java. At the national level, it is among the top 10 poorest regencies.

Its gross domestic product (GDP) in 1999 amounted to a mere Rp 1.96 trillion, putting its annual per capita income at just Rp 1.6 million.

Agriculture accounts for 37.4 percent of GDP, trade 18.09 percent and services 17.3 percent.

The regency relies heavily on central government subsidies, which are only able to raise just Rp 10.9 billion per year locally, or a mere 3.6 percent of its total spending in 2001.

Despite its impoverished condition, Kebumen is ahead of the pack in promoting good governance, thanks to the administration's bottom-up public participation policy. The public is being brought into the decision-making and implementation process, which includes determining its chief executive officer, the regent.

In terms of the problems facing it, Kebumen is a microcosm of the national situation.

The greedy and selfish behavior of national legislators, for instance, are not very different from Kebumen legislators.

Corrupt practices by inefficient bureaucrats remains widespread and public services stay poor despite the national reform process. The presence of reformist leaders often does not mean that the situation will improve much, at least for the time being.

The enthusiasm of ordinary Indonesian people to rebuild their future remains high nevertheless.

Many Kebumens, for example, volunteered themselves to rebuild or renovate school buildings, with little financial assistance from the local authorities.

Rustriningsih is a grassroots politician.

Born on July 3, in 1967, she hails from Gombong, the most populated district in Kebumen.

Her name emerged on the national scene three years ago, when in her capacity as the local leader of the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), she succeeded in minimizing the impacts of anti-Chinese riots in Kebumen on Sept. 7, 1998.

After winning the 1999 general elections, she abandoned her seat at the House of Representatives (DPR) and in the following year, March 2000, she ran and won the Kebumen regency election. She is now one of a few Indonesian women who have made it to become chief administrator in a regency.

The maximization of the role of the newly established Community Assembly Council (BPD) in the regency's 460 villages helps the regent to determine development priorities.

By allocating Rp 1 million per village this year, Assembly members organize their own training programs to improve skills and knowledge.

The presence of strong BPDs have drastically reduced the numbers of demonstrations held at Kebumen Legislative Council and the regent office because many village problems are now resolved by the community assembly.

People may also be losing their trust in their official representatives. In January the Kebumen legislative council was forced by street demonstrators to drop its plan to allocate 30 percent of Kebumen's Rp 7.8 billion locally generated income to increase the salaries of legislators this year.

For next year's budgets, factions in the Council have been busy pressing Regent Rustriningsih to prioritize the list of projects they propose. They do not care that the region has not been able to increase its local revenue to finance the projects.

While criticizing the regent for her failure to realize her commitment in eradicating corruption, the legislators are busy increasing their own salaries and winning government projects.

The Council also issued several bylaws, on local taxation and retribution, although its members realized that many of the bylaws are against laws and higher government regulations.

But people remain determined to build their future and continue their development contribution. The launching of Gerakan Peduli Gedung SD (Movement to Care for Elementary School Buildings) this year has saved up to 80 percent of the total funds needed to renovate or rebuild 300 buildings across the regency.

The regent only needs to allocate Rp 5 million per building because the rest has been financed by local people. The residents were fully involved in planning and implementing construction programs.

About 200 villages worked enthusiastically when the government provided one cow for every village although at least four cows were needed by one village for their breeding program.

The program was taken after intensive consultation with the villagers.

Rustriningsih's transparent and accountable governance has helped bolster public participation in local development. She is also accessible to her people, although currently, she is also busy with her postgraduate studies at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

Kebumen is just a poor regency, and led by a young woman.

There are numerous obstacles, politically and economically, but the people of Kebumen are moving forward for a better life under the leadership of an honest and smart young lady.