RI needs more civilian leaders, says official

JAKARTA (JP): A senior government official said yesterday that, although the number of civilians is in proportion to military leaders, there should be more civilian governors and regents.

Director General of Public Administration and Regional Autonomy of the Home Affairs Ministry Sumitro Maskun said yesterday that there should be more civilians holding top positions in regional administration, in line with the growing demand for professionalism in the way the "regional autonomy" concept is implemented.

Sumitro said 168 out of 300 autonomous regencies and mayoralties are led by civilians, while the remaining 132 by Armed Forces officers, both retired and active.

There are 14 governors with military backgrounds and 13 civilian governors, he said.

"We are working hard to train our officials to fill more positions," he said.

Former home affairs minister Rudini said the placement of retired or active military officials in governmental positions should not be considered as a fixed pattern of the Armed Forces (ABRI) career development.

The retired Army general who now heads Institute for Strategic Studies of Indonesia said that by the end of his ministerial term in 1992, only 39 percent of regional administration positions were held by military officers, compared to the 59 percent when he assumed office in 1987.

In another part of his explanation, Sumitro acknowledged that there are certain regencies and provinces which, due to security reasons, should be led by people with military backgrounds.

Sumitro did not specify, but Rudini explained that areas which border other countries should be led by military officials.

Rudini called for greater say on the part of local people when it comes to electing regents or governors. "They should be chosen in a democratic process," he said. "The regents or governors should be the people's choice."

"If local people choose a civilian over a military candidate, we have to accept that," he added.

Sumitro expressed similar opinions, saying that it is the home affairs ministry's stance that the election of regents should be left to the regional legislative council.

The ministry has only to wait for reports of the whole election process, he said.

He added that the ministry would get involved only if the local legislative council failed to elect a new regent or mayor.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs has the prerogative to order the local legislative council to conduct a new election," he said.

Sumitro was commenting on reports of disputes in the election of the new regent for Musi Banyuasin regency in South Sumatra. The elected regent reportedly bribed a number of council members to ensure his victory.

The ministry recently instructed the local legislative council to conduct a new election. (imn)