United Sulawesi seeks economic cooperation

United Sulawesi seeks economic cooperation

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi (JP): The idea of a united
Sulawesi received support on Friday, with a regional governor
saying it reflected solidarity based on economic and social
cooperation among the four provinces that make up the island.

Speaking at the closing of a two-day intergovernmental meeting
here, North Sulawesi Governor Adolf J. Sondakh said concepts and
deals regarding the cooperation were reached in the meeting
without ignoring the unitary state of Indonesia.

"What we have achieved is a historic momentum in which
Sulawesi people have the same idealism and determination to step
forward," he said to participants at the gathering.

Also present were Central Sulawesi Governor HB Paliudju,
Southeast Sulawesi Governor Laode Kaimuddin and South Sulawesi
Governor HZB Palaguna.

Also recommended in the meeting was the economic and
sociocultural development of a united Sulawesi, which is divided
into short, middle and long-term programs.

The meeting also recommended a move to step up pressure on the
central government to fulfill its promise to disburse Rp 250
billion worth of aid to rebuild Poso's infrastructure.

The establishment of a joint secretariat in Makassar was also
agreed to in the meeting, the seventh of its kind since the first
one in Makassar in 1989.

Palaguna, the central figure behind the concept of a united
Sulawesi, said the establishment of a joint secretariat was
intended to anticipate globalization and the acceleration of
economic growth in the provinces.

"In the future we Sulawesi people must have the same vision
and perception to answer global challenges and enforce laws," he
said. "We must have the same awareness when we are facing
sectarian and inter-religion conflicts, like those in Poso
sometime ago."

Laode Kaimuddin said the Sulawesi governors were trying to
minimize their provinces' dependence on the central government.
"This is in line with the concepts of decentralization and
regional autonomy."

"It's not a political move, but an economic and sociocultural
one," he said. (27/sur)