Tapanuli, E. Sumatra may soon become separate provinces

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

Campaigners are confident the regions of East Sumatra and Tapanuli will officially be established as provinces before next year, formalizing their separation from North Sumatra.

Those backing the formation of the new provinces claimed that in reality the two regions had already broken with North Sumatra, with people from East Sumatra and Tapanuli having lent their support to the planned provinces.

The campaigners include noted House of Representatives member Panda Nababan, provincial and regency legislators such as T.M. Panggabean and local academics.

However, the secretary of the North Sumatra administration, Amrun Daulay, rejected on Tuesday any discussion of the proposal for the time being. He said many regencies in the region were simply not prepared to become separate provinces.

What should be discussed is how to maximize efforts to increase revenue for all districts following the implementation of the autonomy law, he said.

"And this does not necessarily mean to create new provinces. Such an idea contains extremely emotional motives," Amrun, who is a former regent of Tapanuli, told The Jakarta Post.

He said that when the 20 regencies in North Sumatra had succeeded in adequately improving the welfare of local residents, then the creation of new provinces could be discussed.

About 3,000 people from four regencies in North Sumatra -- North Tapanuli, Toba Samosir, Central Tapanuli and Sibolga -- attended a rally in the town of Tarutung on Saturday, in a show of support for the establishment of Tapanuli province.

T.M. Panggabean, a prominent campaigner for the new provinces, said the wishes of the residents would be brought to legislative councils in their respective regencies for discussion.

He said Nababan, who also attended the gathering, promised to solicit the support of at least 50 House members from various factions in Jakarta for the establishment of a Tapanuli province.

Despite a lack of natural resources when compared to East Sumatra, Tapanuli is expected to become a new province sooner than the latter. In terms of the administrative process, Tapanuli is one step ahead of East Sumatra.

Campaigners for a Tapanuli province already have presented a draft of an advisability study on the province's establishment to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the House's Commission II. A similar draft for East Sumatra will only be handed over to the two bodies this week.

Budi Mulia Bangun, the chairman of the East Sumatra province establishment committee, said the draft study was being completed by a team of experts, including Mariam Darus, Sengly Damanik and Bismar Kaban.

"We need to be careful in outlining the draft study for the establishment of an East Sumatra province because it has a bearing on the province's future," he said in response to the sluggishness in completing the study, which began early last year.

Budi said seven legislative councils in 11 regencies wanted to join an East Sumatra province. These councils are in the regencies of Karo, Deli Serdang, Binjai, Pematang Siantar, Tanjung Balai, Asahan and Langkat.

The plan also has won the backing of most members of North Sumatra's legislative councils, he said, adding that some councillors were on the East Sumatra province establishment committee.

"So I am certain that before 2003 an East Sumatra province will be created," Budi said.