'More decentralization essential for Indonesia'

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday stressed that Indonesia must reassess the role the central government plays in the country.

"In an increasingly fast changing and interdependent world, there will no place for a centralistic government, where all decisions are made by the central administration," Soeharto said while addressing 100 military and government officials at Bina Graha presidential office.

"Not only will this be impossible to sustain ... it will also hamper the growth and development of creativity and initiative in society," he told participants of a leadership course organized by the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas).

"Initiative and creativity are the chief assets for the nation's survival in a very dynamic world," he said.

Last April President Soeharto launched a trial run of the regional autonomy project, giving 26 selected regency administrations more responsibility and authority in managing their own affairs. The trial is expected to last two years, and if successful, will be implemented nationwide.

The President said some central authority is still necessary because it is impossible to expect society do everything by themselves.

Among changes he envisaged, are the creation of more multilateral agencies and greater social and economic cooperation across border areas. "Joint projects have been developed which will bring closer friendship between the countries involved in the cooperation," he commented.

These changes, he said, are "a new beginning which, if properly maintained and developed, will bring a level of prosperity and justice which mankind has never experienced before."

"The changes are in part brought about by the wisdom of statesmen, politicians and cultural experts, and by advances in science and technology, and closer social economic ties among countries," he said.

Soeharto dismissed the theory that globalization would lead to the elimination of state borders.

Nation states will continue to exist, he said, acknowledging however that the role of states should be reassessed.

Nation states, he said, can bring together the potentials of diverse groups to face challenges. "States also have a high level of solidarity which can be spread by humanity to achieve its goals."

Lemhannas, the think tank of the Ministry of Defense and Security, runs leadership courses for rising middle level government and military officials. The most recent participants included Maj. Gen. Wiranto, the Jakarta Military Commander, Brig.Gen. Agum Gumelar, the Chief of Staff for the Bukit Barisan Military Command in northern Sumatra, and the Governor of East Timor, Abilio Jose Osorio Soares.

Also present during the courtesy call yesterday were Minister of Defense, Edi Sudradjat, Lemhannas Governor Lt. Gen. Moetojib, and his deputy Juwono Sudarsono, a noted political scientist. (anr)