Revocation of subdistrict council bylaw sought

JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of nine non-governmental organizations grouped under the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) staged a rally at the City Council on Tuesday, demanding the revocation of City Bylaw No.5/2000 on subdistrict council.

Spokesman for the group Azas Tigor Nainggolan told members of the City Council's Commission A for governmental affairs the bylaw allowed the city administration to play a dominant role in the establishment of subdistrict councils and restricted public participation instead.

"The regulation on the subdistrict councils should be more oriented toward people's empowerment," Nainggolan said.

Subdistrict councils are new institutions designed to empower people at the grassroots level to participate in the development of their own communities, as well as to control the activities of their subdistrict administration.

According to City Bylaw No. 5/2000 on the establishment of the councils, a member of a subdistrict council serves a five-year term. A council is to be made up of one representative from each community unit (RW). Normally, one RW oversees 10 neighborhood communities.

Each subdistrict council member, representing a community in a subdistrict, would receive Rp 500,000 per month in "honorary remuneration".

The city administration will also provide each council Rp 200,000 (US$21) monthly for transportation allowances. There will be 265 subdistricts council across the city.

A subdistrict council will also earn Rp 500,000 per month for its meeting expenses.

The funds to finance the operational costs of subdistrict councils will be taken from the 2001 city budget.

Nainggolan criticized the provision of operational funds for fear that the money would deprive the subdistrict council members of their independence in carrying out their jobs.

He said the councillors should replace the bylaw with a new regulation which gives more access for people's participation.

"The city administration should act as a facilitator, nothing more than that," Nainggolan added.

Responding to the demand, chairman of the City Council Commission A Binsar Tambunan said the council could not revoke any regulation without proper procedure. (04)