'More decentralization essential for Indonesia'

'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)