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.