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.