Separatism on the rise?

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.