Time to consider a federal state

Time to consider a federal state

From Republika

The people in Aceh, Riau, East Kalimantan and Irian Jaya have
openly informed the government that if there is no regional
autonomy and financial balance, the four provinces will secede
from the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia (Republika,
April 8). In fact, other people in the provinces outside Java
have the same wish hidden in their hearts. It must be admitted
that the four provinces are the most courageous in this matter.

Is the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia sacrosanct?
The people saying so in the name of nationalism and history are
obsessed with central power. Lord Acton's saying has been proven
by history: Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts
absolutely. Therefore, the central power must be regulated in
such a way as to guarantee that there will be no central power
anymore in Indonesia.

Limited central power is found in federal states like the
United States, Germany and Australia. Those three countries are
prosperous, just, strong and united. There, they do not talk
about certain ideologies like nationalism, national unity, etc.,
but they have implemented democracy in a clear manner because it
is regulated in their constitution. More than 200 years ago, the
founding fathers of the U.S. were conscious that a federal state
was the best form of government to ensure welfare, justice,
strength and unity.

It is not too late to be aware of our mistakes. It is time to
consider an Indonesian Federal Republic. There is no need to wait
like the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

DEHEN BINTI

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan