Separatism on the rise?

With calls for independence echoing with increasing frequency across the country, it is only natural that the government reacts with unmistakable, if veiled, distaste to the growing demands for self-rule from thus far seemingly docile provinces. After all, a Balkan-style breakup of this sprawling archipelago would not only mean an abrogation of the country's hallowed 1945 Constitution which calls for a unitary republic stretching from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Irian Jaya. It would also, economically, open up some very unpleasant prospects for the naturally less-endowed regions. From a wider point of view, it would jeopardize the stability of not only Indonesia, but of the entire Southeast Asian region. Ultimately, it could affect the way in which the rest of the world deals with this entire region.

With all that, the rise of such rebellious sentiments in several Indonesian provinces -- notably those with a wealth of natural resources -- clearly does not come as a surprise. Indeed, the potential for schisms has always been there in this hugely diverse nation. And it is something many observers have expected ever since the government decided to offer East Timor either full autonomy or independence. It should, however, be noted that of all of the country's present 27 provinces, East Timor is emotionally the easiest for Indonesians to cut loose.

For one thing, the territory was never a part of the former Netherlands East Indies and therefore its historical background is totally distinct from that of the rest of the country. For another, East Timor has from the beginning been a problem province, and an end to all the problems is nowhere in sight, due to Jakarta's political and military bungling in the province over the past more than two decades. For these reasons, most Indonesians do not feel as emotionally attached to East Timor as they do to the rest of the country.

Thus, while granting full autonomy to East Timor means one thing for Jakarta, offering the same to other provinces is an entirely different matter. At the same time, though, it must be realized that there is longstanding discontent in many regions over the way in which Jakarta has managed the country's natural resources and revenues. In Aceh and Irian Jaya, such discontent has given rise to demands for greater autonomy and recently, with the demands remaining unheeded, for separation from Indonesia. One telling example is Riau, a province of four million people which local proponents for independence say will contribute at least 24 percent of Indonesia's projected income for 1999/2000 of Rp 400 trillion (US$ 43 billion). Yet, only Rp 250 billion from the state budget will go into the province's coffers.

The easiest -- or at least most direct -- way for the government to handle the situation and maintain the country's unity obviously would be to practice the old iron-fisted policy imposed under the New Order regime of former president Soeharto. Though there has reportedly been casual talk among officials of "squashing" such separatist drifts in the bud, the government has wisely stayed away from using military force to solve the problem. Instead, a law is being drafted to grant greater autonomy to the country's provinces.

Meanwhile, authorities in Jakarta would do well to look at the examples of Aceh, Irian Jaya and of course East Timor, where years of military operations have aggravated rather than helped the situation. The only way to stem and eventually reverse the separatist sentiment from spreading through the provinces is by assuring a fair deal for them all. Since not all of the regions are equally endowed, some obviously will need the assistance of the central government. Done with transparency and rationality, certainly an arrangement that satisfies all can be worked out.