Messy autonomy

The regional autonomy policy which came into effect at the start of this year reared its ugly head in Jakarta this week with the disruption of water supplies to some 117,000 households in the capital.

The Tangerang mayoralty, which controls one of the two main streams that supply Jakarta's drinking water company PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya, unilaterally decided this week to slow down the rate of flow while it negotiates for higher fees from Jakarta water authorities.

This practice of blackmailing a neighbor by manipulating the control of vital commodities or services was virtually unheard of in the past. Before Jan. 1, the central government controlled the supply and distribution of natural resources and vital commodities so that problems could be addressed at the central government level.

Now, with the regions virtually in control of all the natural resources in their respective territories and with most of the regional administrations hard-pressed to raise income locally because the central government is reducing its financial contribution, naturally, they want to extract as much money as they can get. Frictions between the regions begin to emerge.

Since the beginning of the year, we have seen regional administrations scrambling to get their hands on whatever natural resources in their areas to boost their revenues. The end result has been sheer confusion, especially where resources overlap territorial boundaries. Many investors, local and foreign, have decided to sit it out until this mess is cleared up. Judging by the recent trends, they will probably have to sit this one out a little longer.

Until recently, the rows between regional administrations have been limited to the right to tap mining and forestry resources. The Tangerang administration has now expanded the theater of controversy to include water. Since Tangerang controls some upstream sections of the rivers from which Jakarta's drinking water authorities procure their water resources, it is now demanding more money.

Determined to win the negotiations, Tangerang cut the flow of water in the stream to Jakarta. As deplorable and demeaning the Tangerang administration's action is in depriving millions of Jakarta residents of their water supply, this is a trend that we will probably have to put up with in the coming years as regions flex whatever muscle they possess to boost revenues.

One of the unforeseen consequences of the regional autonomy policy is that every regional administration must now think for itself to ensure its own survival. The water row between Jakarta and Tangerang shows that some administrations are prepared to throw principles underpinning national unity, including peaceful coexistence and cooperation, out of the window.

We have known all along that the regional autonomy policy was poorly planned and prepared. But the plan was forged ahead regardless because of concerns that any further delay would antagonize many regions and increase the aspirations of more provinces to secede from the republic.

It will take a firm but wise central government to resolve the diverse range of problems and conflicts that are emerging from the implementation of the regional autonomy policy. The current domestic political situation, unfortunately, is not helping Indonesia negotiate this very difficult transition toward a more decentralized system of government.

All parties, including the central government and the regional administrations, must exercise wisdom in dealing with these problems. Without wisdom and a greater sense of nationhood, each region will be fighting for itself. Would it not be ironic if the final outcome of regional autonomy were to accelerate the process of this republic's disunity, precisely the very thing it seeks to prevent?