Regional autonomy triggers ethnic conflicts: Experts

JAKARTA (JP): Experts warned on Tuesday of the potential threat of widespread ethnic conflicts posed by regional autonomy, due to an upsurge of indigenous solidarity and power struggles between local leaders.

The University of Indonesia's senior anthropologist, James Dananjaya, regretted the fact that the government adopted a regional autonomy policy without first conducting thorough studies on the social and cultural characteristics of different communities in the country.

"Too many complicated social and cultural problems will emerge due to the government's failure to carry out comprehensive studies on the impacts, and how to anticipate the impacts, of regional autonomy," James said.

Regional autonomy began to take effect on Jan. 1 after one year of delays. The policy was based on Law No. 22/1999 on regional administration and Law No. 25/1999 on fiscal balance between the central and local governments.

Ryaas Rasyid, former state minister for regional autonomy and administrative reform, who drew up the regional autonomy blueprint, had earlier warned that the policy would not work effectively due to a lack of supporting structural institutions. He resigned from the Cabinet several days after the policy took effect.

James said the policy would provide the potential for local people to justify all means to gain power and, at the same time, dismiss outsiders who previously held power, in what he described as bureaucratic chaos within local administrations.

"In the name of ethnic solidarity, people can easily be mobilized," James added.

He was speaking during a seminar discussing ethnic conflict and ethnic instincts in Indonesia, jointly held by the Perhimpunan Indonesia Baru nongovernmental organization and the Indonesian Anthropologists Association. Also speaking at the forum were senior anthropologist Parsudi Suparlan and sociologist Iqbal Djayadi.

Parsudi suggested that regional autonomy would sharpen the distinction between native and migrant settlers, a situation that would incite hostility between the two groups.

He also said that law enforcement was the key to curbing ethnic conflicts.

"Law enforcement is currently ineffective and the authorities are not equipped with knowledge on ethnicity and its related problems," he said.

Sociologist M. Iqbal Djajadi said all ethnic conflicts were actually based in local politics, while the possibility for, and resolution of, such conflicts had not been adequately addressed by both the central and local administrations.

"I am afraid that regional autonomy will further worsen the situation as native ethic groups begin to feel superior," he said.

"Things will not improve in the coming years and more conflicts, not only between different ethnic groups, are within sight." (emf)