EXCLUSIVE - Autonomy in mining sector to be implemented January 1, 2001
Friday, November 17 2000 - 05:30 AM WIB
The government has decided to implement the regional autonomy policy in the mining sector as scheduled on January 1, 2001.
Deputy of the House of Representatives commission VIII on mining and energy Emir Moeis said Friday that the decision had been made at a cabinet meeting last Thursday.
Emir was speaking at a APCO roundtable discussion.
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Purnomo Yusgiantoro proposed earlier to delay the implementation of the regional autonomy policy on grounds that many province and district administrations were not yet ready.
But regional administrations have protested to the proposal.
The government plans to launch the regional autonomy policy partly in a bid to prevent the country from disintegration as provinces with rich natural resources had protested the way Jakarta exploited their resources in the past but without sufficient compensation for the regions. (Alex)