Definition of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia

 By  Akhmad Zamroni

Source: https://serikatnews.com

Our country is the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia - commonly abbreviated as NKRI. NKRI is a name and form that is final. This means that the Republic of Indonesia is designated as a permanent form of state and will always be maintained forever. Then, what is actually called the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI)? To find out the meaning of NKRI, you are welcome to follow the following description.

In the word or abbreviation NKRI, there are four main elements that determine the meaning contained in it. The four elements are the state, unity, republic, and Indonesia. These four elements explicitly and firmly state that Indonesia is a unitary state as well as a republic. This shows that "Indonesia" is a "unitary" country and the government is in the form of a "republic".

Provisions regarding the certainty of Indonesia as a unitary state and a republic are very clearly regulated in our constitution. In the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia Article 1 Paragraph (1) it is explained that "the State of Indonesia is a Unitary State in the form of a republic." Meanwhile, in Article 18 Paragraph (1) it is explained, "The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is divided into provincial areas and provincial areas are divided into districts and cities, each of which has a regional government, which is regulated by Constitution."

Based on the constitution (the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia), it is clear that Indonesia is a country that is formed in a unified and unified unit. As a unitary state, Indonesia is not divided into states. Even though it has regions that are divided into various provinces, each of which has its own regional government, Indonesia is not divided into separate government units independent of the central government. Although it has a diversity of religions, ethnicities, cultures, customs, and so on, Indonesia is also not shaky in the life of an exclusive and isolated group. The regulation and control of the life of the nation and state in Indonesia is held by the central government, which has internal and external sovereignty.

Even though the central government has the main control over the life of the nation and state, in regulating the affairs of citizens' life there is no accumulation and monopoly of authority by the central government. The central government does not dominate and take over all problems nor does it hold all development activities in all regions of the country. However, the central government only regulates matters of a national strategic nature. As for other problems related to regional interests, the handling is left up to the government and local communities.

This has become a standard provision because since entering the reform era (1998/1999), our country has implemented regional autonomy and decentralization. Regional autonomy and decentralization itself are implemented on the basis of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (post-amendment) and UU No. 32/2004. In Article 18 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, it is emphasized that local governments - in this case the provincial, district and city governments - regulate and manage government affairs themselves according to the principle of autonomy. As for the UU No. 32/2004 concerning Regional Government, among others, explains that regional autonomy is the right, authority and obligation of an autonomous region to regulate and manage government affairs and the interests of local communities in accordance with statutory regulations.

The implementation of regional autonomy and decentralization is not merely a means of sharing power between the central government and local governments within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia. However, its implementation was mainly to strengthen the Republic of Indonesia itself. Regional autonomy and decentralization, among others, are intended to strengthen the implementation of democracy, empower regional potential, and accelerate development in the regions so that equitable distribution of welfare throughout the country is expected to be faster and easier to achieve. If this is realized, NKRI will automatically maintain its strength and integrity because prosperity is a key factor in creating stability, security and order.