Transmigration and its centre-regional context : the case of Riau and South Kalimantan Provinces, Indonesia

Abstract

This thesis analyses transmigration policy in Indonesia within the context of centre and regional relationships. The evidence from Riau and South Kalimantan suggests that as a consequence of the unequal relationship between the centre and the regions, the implementation of transmigration policy has suffered from a lack of both coordination and feedback that could enhance an appropriate policy. At the regional level, the ambiguous national goals of transmigration policy have been simply translated into physical and quantifiable targets, which, in turn, have resulted in the neglect of transmigration policy as an integrated and complementary effort between the different sectors and ministries. The prevailing problems of implementation, such as the unsuitability of land for agricultural settlements, the various forms of mismanagement within the implementing agencies, and the hidden conflicts with the local population, have only had limited feedback effect on the policy making process in the central government. After the budget was drastically cut back in the mid-1980s, however, transmigration policy started to confront new dimensions of these problems. At this time, the implementation of transmigration policy was forced to change direction toward, among other things, maintaining the existing settlements and bolstering the cash-crops scheme. The spontaneous transmigration scheme, which became government rhetoric during the previous period, seems also to be receiving serious attention by the government. Yet, as the prevailing economic and political structure of the country is unchanged, the myth of transmigration policy as a panacea is unlikely to vanish. Show more