Susilo and DPD discuss regional issues
Susilo and DPD discuss regional issues
Rendi A. Witular and Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had his first consultative
meeting with the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) on Monday
to discuss social and economic development in the country's 32
provinces.
The meeting, which took place five months after Susilo was
elected, discussed 10 items including the fuel price hikes, anti-
corruption drives and the discrepancies in economic development
across the regions.
"The meeting shows the government's seriousness in solving
problems in the regions," DPD speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita said
after the meeting.
Ginandjar said he had asked Susilo to help him work to ensure
mining companies complied with environmental regulations and
helped empower locals living surrounding the mining sites.
"We don't want mining companies to abandon the environment
once they end there operations here. This should be prevented to
avoid job losses and increased poverty once the company leaves,"
he said.
Susilo said the government would follow up five of the 10
discussed issues with the related ministries.
"The government will respond to the problems raised by DPD
members during the meeting. We will seek the best settlement for
them," he said.
Susilo said the five issues included the upcoming election of
governors and regents in conflict areas. It would be important to
select capable and responsible leaders to end the conflicts, he
said.
The government and DPD would also discuss further the
distribution of the low-income assistance funds allocated from
the reduced fuel subsidies.
"The government has also prepared the time line to gradually
meet the 20 percent (of national budget money targeted) for
education funding. We expect that by 2009 the government can
fully meet that requirement," Susilo said.
He said the government and DPD would meet again to further
discuss the reconstruction of Aceh.
The government is preparing a blueprint for reconstructing
Aceh based on input from Acehnese administrators and local
leaders.
Ten issues raised in the meeting:
1. Regional aspiration on autonomy and the establishment of new
regents and provinces, along with the election of regional
administrations.
2. Allocation of funds from state and regional budgets for
education, which should be at least 20 percent of the total
budget as stipulated in the State Budget Law and Education Law.
3. Efforts to rehabilitate and reconstruct tsunami-stricken Aceh.
4. Fuel subsidy reductions and the allocation of low-income
assistance funds.
5. Civil servant recruitment in the regions.
6. Regional involvement in the government's many large
infrastructure projects.
7. Anti-corruption drives in the regions.
8. Illegal fishing and illegal logging.
9. Compliance of mining companies for the environment and nearby
communities.
10. Development discrepancies between cities and regions.