Revision of autonomy law is meant to prevent federalism

Revision of autonomy law is meant to prevent federalism

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno insisted on Monday that the
planned amendment of the two autonomy laws passed in 1999 were
aimed at avoiding the de facto establishment of a federal state
in Indonesia.

Hari told a hearing with the House of Representatives'
Commission II for home and legal affairs here that there had been
efforts to institute federalism on the part of regional
governments following the endorsement of Law No. 22 on regional
autonomy and Law No. 25 on financial balance between central and
regional administrations.

"The concept of the unitary state of Indonesia provides for
the transfer of administrative power from the central government
to regional governments, which is different from what happens in
a federal state," Hari said.

He said that if the concept of the unitary state was
misunderstood, regional governments would tend to pursue their
respective interests at the expense of the national interest.

"We should pay attention to relations between one regional
administration and another so that in case of a conflict between
regencies the provincial authorities will automatically
intervene," he said.

Hari met the legislators to brief them on the government's
decision to revise the two controversial laws. The revised
versions of the laws are currently being drafted.

The minister said the revisions were not aimed at enabling the
central government to regain absolute power.

"We wish to harmonize the relationship between the central
government and local governments. Without these changes, some of
the regions will develop far more quickly than others," he said.

After the drafting and deliberation of their executory
regulations, both laws entered into effect on Jan. 1, 2001.

But a number of conflicts have arisen in various regions
following the enactment of the laws, particularly over the power
of regional administrations in respect of the allocation of
assets.

Conflicts between regional administrations, legislative
councils, and locally based companies have also broken out in
some regions.

Hari said that only confusing and conflicting articles would
be amended.

Citing as an example, he said article 7 of the regional
autonomy law stipulated that regional administrations had
authority in all field save for foreign relations, defense,
justice, monetary and fiscal policy, religious affairs,
exploitation of natural resources, and environmental
conservation.

He said that no explanation or elucidation of the article had
been provided in the law, which had led to misperceptions among
regional administrations.

The revisions will also touch on the powers of a governor in
connection with his role as the agent of the central government.

The current regional autonomy law has also limited the
mobility of civil servants, who are essential for ensuring that
the bureaucracy actually works.

"I think civil servants should be allowed to move from and to
other regions because they are one of the factors that bind the
nation together," he said.

Hari claimed that the planned amendments had won the support
of his Cabinet colleagues and the regional administrations. "The
plan was discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Jan. 23 and a meeting
of regional administrations on Jan. 28 through Jan. 30," he
added.

A group of regency legislators met Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last week
to reject the planned revision of the laws.