Regional autonomy triggers ethnic conflicts: Experts

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)