NGOs, parties stripped of power

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 09/18/2007 2:52 PM

The government said it is preparing a draft regulation which would see NGOs and political parties stripped of the ability to propose new regions.

The draft regulation is set to replace Government Regulation No. 129/2000, because the government said many newly-developed provinces, regencies and mayoralties had failed to improve social welfare in their area.

Home Affairs Minister Mardiyanto said the draft regulation was required because NGOs and political parties generally had agendas focused on political rather than economic and administrative issues.

""In the future, the formation of new regions will be based on aspirations channeled by the people, through provincial and regional legislatures and on technical, administrative and economic considerations,"" he said.

The formation of new regions would be based on in-depth studies conducted by origin regions and would have to meet administrative requirements set by the 2004 regional administration law.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for the moratorium because socio-economic advances were not being realized in the new regions.

He said too many political positions had been created and funds were being wasted.

But the House is still deliberating bills on the creation of 27 new regencies and municipalities across the archipelago.

And Papuan tribal leaders have proposed the Papua province to be divided further into three new provinces including Central Papua, South Papua and Southeast Papua.

Papua has already been divided into Papua and West Papua provinces.

Abdul Gafur of the Golkar Party and Tumbu Saraswati of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the failure of the new regions had a lot to do with the absence of a grand plan.

Saifullah Mashum of the National Awakening Party (PKB) called on the government to speed up the review on the government regulation setting new guidelines around new regions.

""It is impossible to halt the formation of new regions unless the current ruling is revised,"" he said.

""The House will support the draft regulation for efficiency in spending the state budget."" (JP/Ridwan Max Sijabat)

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.