No regions fully autonomous: Soerjadi
No regions fully autonomous: Soerjadi
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy
Surjadi Soedirdja warned governors on the possible pitfalls and
potential conflicts between the central government and the
provincial administrations as a result of regional autonomy,
while reminding them that no region is fully autonomous.
"The implementation of the regional autonomy could cause
numerous conflicts between the central government and the
provinces or between provinces and regencies or mayoralties over
the sharing of authority in certain sectors. So far, the
government and regions are still divided over authority in the
mining and forestry sectors," he said in a meeting with 28
governors on Tuesday.
He said provinces and regencies or mayoralties are also still
divided over income from vehicle taxes and the relocation of
personnel from the central government to the provinces and
regencies.
"The personnel relocation is a logical consequence of the
implementation of regional autonomy. Regions have no excuse for
not employing personnel relocated from the central government,"
he asserted pointing out that their pay is already included in
the general allocation fund totaling Rp 60 trillion in the 2001
state budget.
He regretted that some regions were apparently trying to
reject the relocation of personnel from the central government.
The minister also asserted that no province or regency was
fully autonomous or independent.
"Despite the regional autonomy, all regencies and mayoralties
will remain interrelated with the central government, both
administratively and politically, under the unitary state," he
said.
He further reminded them that regions have authority in only
11 sectors, including public works, industry and trade,
cooperatives, labor affairs, forestry and mining.
The minister also asked governors to ensure improvement in
their public service.
"The government's success in implementing regional autonomy
should be measured by whether public service and social welfare
have improved and if the unitary state has strengthened," he
said.
The governors on the other hand urged the central government
to expedite the issuance of necessary regulations on regional
autonomy to avoid confusion among local officials.
Central Sulawesi Governor HB Paliudju said regulations on the
regions' authority in the eleven sectors had yet to be issued.
He also complained about his province's small general
allocation fund.
"Our general allocation fund has decreased by over 100 percent
to Rp 126 billion this fiscal year from Rp 286 billion in 2000,"
he said.
Riau Governor Saleh Djasit said despite the small general
allocation fund, his province could earn a lot from its natural
resource explorations.
"We have no problem with the small general allocation fund.
However, the issuance of regulations on the regions' authority in
the eleven autonomous sectors is urgently needed," he said. (rms)