Regional autonomy brings more rights issues
Regional autonomy brings more rights issues
JAKARTA (JP): The implementation of regional autonomy may
increase the number of human rights violations, an expert said on
Thursday.
Political scientist Andi A. Mallarangeng feared that there
would be more human rights violations as there were no mechanisms
of monitoring, supervising and coordinating between Jakarta and
the regions.
He said that if the regional autonomy is implemented, the
regions would run "wild" with full authority to make policies at
will. There would be no institution to revoke the regulations
they make even if they are against the higher laws or public
interest.
"Because of these points, the decentralization of the National
Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has to be implemented as
soon as possible ... It's dangerous to let the regions walk by
themselves without any control," he said.
Mallarangeng, a senior official in the now defunct ministry of
state for regional autonomy, described the new challenges for
Komnas HAM in a two-day workshop on human rights here.
He said that unclear government policy may also increase the
number of human rights abuses caused by dissatisfied people.
"Jakarta has failed to provide a distinctive framework for the
regions to make their own policies. As an example, the home
ministry has yet to install the regent of Sampang in Madura, East
Java.
"This kind of uncertainty can cause unrest among the
people ... a new problem for the rights commission because it
involves the masses.
"Even worse, what if the regions, feeling neglected, try to
get Jakarta's attention by demanding for independence? You will
be kept busy," he added.
The implementation of regional autonomy that started this year
was viewed skeptically by many experts, arguing that only a few
regions were prepared in terms of human resources.
Mallarangeng also pointed out that Komnas should have the
mechanism to resolve conflicts which cross regional boundaries or
conflicts beyond rights issues.
"Now you've got more tasks, not only to provide policy
advocacy to the regions, but also as a mediator for conflict
resolutions and as a policy observer.
Komnas HAM chairman Djoko Soegianto said the commission had
decided to decentralize its authority because its 19 members
were unable to handle all the rights issues, which mostly took
place in regions outside Java.
"The centralization of resources in Jakarta is not effective.
We only have one representative office in Aceh and another one in
West Kalimantan and that's not enough. So we have make the
decentralization plan our main strategic plan until 2005," he
said on the first day of the workshop on Wednesday. (bby)