President Megawati says rebellions have subsided
President Megawati says rebellions have subsided
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Sumedang, West Java
President Megawati Soekarnoputri claimed on Friday that
separatist movements, which have dogged the sovereignty of the
nation since 1998, have subsided.
"The sovereignty of the state has been put to the test, but
thank God, it's almost over", Megawati told fresh graduates of
the National Public Administration Institute (STPDN) here.
Shortly after the downfall of former president Soeharto in May
1998, many regions demanded independence from the Unitary State
of Indonesia (NKRI), citing past unfair treatment by the central
government.
The East Timor separatist movement was able to profit from
this situation as they gained independence in 1999 after a UN-
sponsored popular ballot.
Other independence movements were underway, including those in
Papua and Aceh.
The regions had complained that all the earnings from natural
resources in the regions were taken away by the central
government, while they got nothing.
The Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the country's easternmost
province and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in the westernmost
province are the two strongest secessionist movements in the
country.
The government imposed martial law in Aceh in May where the
Indonesian Military (TNI) is conducting security operation aimed
at quashing the rebellion in the province.
Megawati admitted that the central government had taken away
so much from the regions, and neglected its obligation to give a
fair share to the regions.
The gap in wealth between Java island and other islands, with
their distinct and yet rich cultures, underlined the potential
problems that could fuel the separatist movements.
In this light, Megawati asserted that the role of civil
servants, namely the graduates of STPDN, was of utmost importance
to prevent the revival of separatist movements in the future.
She said the differences of culture, ethnicity and religion
were problems that the graduates of STPDN had to tackle in their
work as public servants.
Megawati also asserted that graduates of STPDN must understand
the differences and must then employ the correct approach toward
people in the regions, in order to ease potential separatist
sentiments in the regions.
"As representatives of the central government, the graduates
must set an example for the people in order to gain respect in
the regions.
"The threat of separatism has subsided, don't revive it again
in the future through corrupt practices in the regions," said
Megawati during the graduation ceremony.
At least 982 students graduated from STPDN, 308 of whom were
women.
Meanwhile, some 300 students, grouped under the Bandung
Student Executive Body and Bandung Raya National Student Front,
staged a protest several hundred meters from where the graduation
ceremony took place.
The Bandung Student Executive Body lashed out at Megawati,
saying that her government had betrayed its commitment to reform.
While, the Bandung Raya National Student Front demanded that
the government provide free education for all.