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Defence & Security Minister: Federal System Not The Right Thing Jakarta, Kompas Online Defence and Security Minister, Juwono Sudarsono is of the opinion that a federal system would not suit an archipelagian state. It would not be right to implement a federal system in the vast expanse that is Indonesia, which is strategically located. A federal system in this island state would be the first step to seperatism. Juwono spoke about the subject at a press meeting attended by local and foreign reporters at the Defence Department Tuesday (7/12) in Jakarta.. The press meeting was organized on account of several foreign and national media, which wanted a special interview with Juwono, the first civilian in this position after it had been in the hands of the military for four decades. As usual, Juwono replied every question to the detail. A discussion about a federal state,is seen by Juwono as a materialization of wanting to do something different. "A debate about the structure of the state I rather leave to lawyers of legal state order. A federal state rarely consists of an archipelago.Except for the Micronesian Federation, which is an isolated country. To large and strategically located countries, a federal system would be like the first step to seperatism," he said. If it is going in that direction, said Juwono, it would be very hard to define the border between real islands, like Sumatra and Java and Kalimantan, for instance. A federal state would practically raise strategic problems between neighboring countries which are hard to organise in anarchipelagian state. "New maritime regulations between neighboring countries will be be hard to unanimously find approval," he said. No guarantee for all around approval Juwono is also of the opinion that a federal state would guarantee unity. At the moment it would be necessary to erase supremacy of one group and one classical predominamcy in this setup is Java, the island of Java in the form of the system. He said further, when the Republic was established, the idea stuck that every Indonesian born in the region, was somebody from a different part. " The desire to start nation building would need time," he said. As to Aceh, Juwono explained, the Aceh people are tired of promises, they would like to see concrete support for their boarding schools, and schools. "However, there is a dilemma. The Habibie government has donated Rp.17 trillion before. Aceh people commented, Aceh has enough, we don't need support. Every step central government took could develop in an issue. I am appealing to the media, report in a fair way, please, and give government the opportunity to express its opinions too," he said. As to Ambon and the controversial subject of participation of the military in the riots, he said, both the Kostrad troops and the Marines, the Airforce unit, have been assigned to stop the conflict and fights, they were also supposed to apeace the local atmosphere. "Later some incidents indicated the piossibility of one unit joining rioters on the roads, that might be right. May be that was wrong or it was right," he said. The Armed Forces and the Police units have been making efforts towards a cultural agreement. Both parties have been bloaming one another for benefiting from the authorities for their own sheer interests. "We like to see a solution that would bring village, and traditional figures, religious leaders and youths of all walks of life together," he said. Juwono analysed further, "Perhaps at the beginning of 1996, when the possibility was there to agree on a Christian Governor, an Islam District Secretary, or the other way around. The agreement of 1996 was forgotten because of demographic problems which tipped the religious balance in a disastrous way overthere." The factor grew the wrong way when a conflict with religious overtones broke open. "Here we see the phenomenon of reflection. "We see that one conflict in the field ignites another in Jakarta, after that the media trained the reflection elsewhere and heated the atmosphere even further. We live indeed, in the open surrounded by nature. I hope that the media will report in a more balanced way," The Defence Minister said. About the East Timor refugees which have been the focus of attention in the media lately, Juwono said, one uncertain factor in the question is, will the refugees be accepted, culturally, and politically by the CNRT and the Falintil when they return to East Timor. "Xanana Gusmao told me, he will try to set up something positive, and that he would guarantee in words to accept pro-integration East Timorese." (*) for comments, suggestions, and information please contact: permias_fresno@hotmail.com Permias Fresno 97-2000 all rights reserved. |
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