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.