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)