RI needs more civilian leaders, says official

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)