Regents tell govt to delay revision of autonomy laws

Regents tell govt to delay revision of autonomy laws

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The country's regencies demanded on Wednesday that the central
government postpone its plan to revise the current autonomy laws
pending a comprehensive evaluation involving both the central
government and local administrations.

According to the chairman of the Regency Administration
Association, Amiruddin Maula, the revision was not yet necessary
as the law had not even been implemented fully.

"The implementation of the regional autonomy laws is still
impaired due to the central government's failure to support the
program," he said, while reading the recommendations formulated
during a three-day seminar on regional autonomy which ended on
Wednesday.

The recommendations were read out before Coordinating Minister
for Politics and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who
was in attendance for the seminar's closing ceremony.

Amiruddin said "the government has failed to facilitate the
implementation of regional autonomy."

Regional autonomy has become a thorny issue in Indonesia, with
critics voicing concerns that the current autonomy laws have
given too much authority to regencies to generate revenues and
manage local affairs.

The demand for autonomy grew after the fall in 1998 of the New
Order regime which was widely resented for ignoring development
in the provinces. Strong demands for autonomy came from provinces
rich in natural resources such as Irian Jaya, Riau, and Aceh.

Autonomy laws were quickly drafted, but problems were also
quick to surface.

Investors are, for example, confused about which
administration - local or central -- has the authority to issue
business permits. Several regencies have also issued their own
regulations without consulting Jakarta.

In order to minimize negative effects, the government is
currently revising laws No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy and No.
25/1999 on fiscal balance.

The government has also said the amendment of the laws was
needed as part of the government's effort to "support local
growth without sacrificing national unity."

"In order to avoid further confusion over the implementation
of the laws, we expect the government to issue regulations on it,
and immediately revoke such regulations that contradict the
spirit of regional autonomy," said Amiruddin.

He noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs must take
initiatives in coordinating and supervising the implementation of
the laws.

Amiruddin, however, declined to reveal which regulations
needed to be revoked.

Meanwhile, Susilo supported the spirit of regional autonomy
but emphasized that "the nation's unity must not be affected by
its implementation."

"We must be able to manage this program carefully in order to
avoid conflicts between the central government and local
administrations," Susilo said.

He also stressed the importance of transparency and
accountability as well as good communication in implementing the
regional autonomy. He expressed hope that autonomy will improve
the process of democracy in the country.

"The regional autonomy should create more harmony in outlying
regions," he said, adding that he would report to President
Megawati Soekarnoputri about the regents' the demand.