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)