New law grants Aceh province broader autonomy
New law grants Aceh province broader autonomy
JAKARTA (JP): Aceh province in the northernmost part of
Sumatra will be granted special autonomy to administer its
religious, educational and local customs affairs under a law
approved by the House of Representatives here on Wednesday.
The law regarding the observance of the uniqueness of the
special province of Aceh will also grant a special role to local
Islamic clerics to make provincial policies.
The law, promulgated at the initiative of several House
members, was approved only after a few weeks of deliberation,
apparently in a bid to quell secessionist sentiments among the
Acehnese.
The law stipulates that Islam is the religion of a majority of
Acehnese and the Aceh administration is obliged to encourage the
people to comply with syariat (the legal code of Islam) in all
aspects of life while still promoting religious harmony with
adherents of other religions.
The four factions of the House said in their final views on
the legislation that the central government should immediately
prepare regulations to allocate bigger financial resources to the
Aceh administration to implement its broader autonomy.
The local administration is also obliged to develop and
promote Acehnese customs and traditions based on Islamic rules,
include additional materials in the national education curricula
and develop Islamic education institutions.
The legislation stipulates the establishment of an independent
ulemas council, the status of which will be equal to the
provincial administration and legislative council. The ulemas
council will be involved in all policymaking processes of the
administration.
Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid, who represented the
government at the House plenary session, said Aceh would get a
much bigger budget allocation to implement its special autonomy.
"In addition, concerning resources provided under the law on
intergovernmental fiscal balances, this new law also will arrange
additional budgetary appropriations for the Aceh administration,"
Sjarwan said.
Bachtiar Chamsyah, spokesman for the United Development Party
(PPP) faction, said the special autonomy stipulated by the law
would greatly help Aceh prosper in all fields.
"It is ironic that Aceh, which contributed greatly to the
struggle for Indonesian independence in 1945 and which is quite
rich in natural disasters, has yet to enjoy the fruits of
development, with the majority of its people remaining poor,"
Bachtiar pointed out.
The Acehnese have not only been disillusioned with the
province's restrained economy, but they have also been deeply
hurt by years of repression during the New Order era, he added.
Didik Hadidjah Hasan of the ruling Golkar Party faction said
her faction supported the law because the special autonomy would
encourage the local people to remain united with other
Indonesians.
Sudiyotomo, spokesman for the Indonesian Military faction,
called on the Acehnese provincial administration to immediately
prepare local regulations to implement the province's special
autonomy and disseminate the benefits of the law among the
Acehnese. (rms)