Regional autonomy 'needs no rulings'

Regional autonomy 'needs no rulings'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza
Mahendra said the government should not issue too many rulings on
regional autonomy and instead allow provinces and regencies to
take the initiative in handling the affairs.

"Thus far, it isn't necessary for the central government to
make regulations to implement regional autonomy," he said.

He said this was meant "to avoid further intervention in the
regions' internal affairs".

"Provinces and regencies should be allowed to develop their
creativity in implementing the autonomy in accordance with their
ability," he said on Thursday.

His remarks were in direct contrast to State Minister of
Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid, who earlier this week said time
was needed before regional autonomy could be fully implemented
since many regulations needed to be drafted.

But Yusril said many provinces were already uneasy due to what
they perceived as the tardy pace of the central government's
implementing of autonomy.

"Many provinces and regencies are impatient to wait until
2001. The government should allow them to implement the autonomy
(now) if they are ready," he said.

Oesman Sapta, the chairman of the Forum of Regional
Representatives at the People's Consultative Assembly, regretted
Yusril's statement, saying it ran completely counter to what the
government had been saying thus far.

"Yusril should not make such statements ... it will confuse
people, provinces and regencies. It is his right to have a
difference of opinion with Ryaas but such friction among the
Cabinet members should not be exposed to the public," he said.

Separately, political scientists here warned that regional
autonomy in its implementation could face problems dealing with
the preponderance of the military in the regions.

Rizal Sukma from the Center for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) said thus far the aspect of civil-military
relations in the region had been overlooked.

"We know that governors, regents or village heads are always
'accompanied' by local military commanders," Rizal said on
Wednesday.

He said without some formal regulation, civilian power would
be fruitless in the regional autonomy plan.

Meanwhile, Ramlan Surbakti highlighted the problem of
inadequate human resources as a major problem likely to be faced
by the regions in their rush to obtain more control over their
affairs.

The Surabaya-based Airlangga University political scientist
also remarked that the implementation of regional autonomy could
be impeded by "centralize-minded" officials.

One way to overcome this was to ensure a greater role of non-
governmental organizations.

But he doubted whether high-ranking officials would abdicate
their power and cede to the desire of these groups.

But Andi A. Mallarangeng, an expert staff member of the state
minister of regional autonomy, argued that all these problems
could be handled if time was given to draft the appropriate laws
to regulate these potential problems.

"The law can make people happy to be part of Indonesia," Andi
insisted.(jun/rms)