SUBDIVISIONS OF INDONESIA

Indonesia is divided into provinces. Provinces consist of regencies and cities. Province, regencies, and cities, have their own local governments.

Since the enactment of Local Government Law 1999 (the law was revised in 2004), the local governments enjoy greater role to administer their own area - however foreign politics, defence (including armed forces and national police), system of law, and monetary policy, are still being national government domain. Since 2004, heads of local government (governors, regents, and mayors) has been directly elected by the popular election.

Province level

Main article: Provinces of Indonesia

Currently, Indonesia is divided into 33 provinces (provinsi). Seven provinces were created since 2000. Each province has its own local government (Pemerintah Daerah Provinsi), headed by the governor (gubernur); and has its own legislative body (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah). Governor and member of representatives are elected by popular vote for 5 years term.

Among 33 provinces of Indonesia, 4 of them have special status:

• Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (formerly: Aceh Special Region), according to MoU of 2005 will have greater status, such as has its own Islamic syari'ah law (only for Muslim citizen), flag and song of province, and local political parties are allowed.
• Yogyakarta Special Region. The status is granted to the province because it is considered that Yogyakarta have made an invaluable contribution to the Republic of Indonesia both before and after the Indonesian Declaration of Independence in 1945. The governor is not elected, but automatically served by Sultan of Yogyakarta. For centuries, Sultanate of Yogyakarta has reigned in the region.
• Papua (formerly: Irian Jaya), since 2000 has greater role of local government, including allowed to own flag and song of province.
• Jakarta Special Capital Region, is place of all national government bodies. It is proposed that Jakarta area will be extended to part of neighbouring provinces.

Each province is divided into regencies (kabupaten) and cities (kota) level entities.

Regency and city level

Main article: Cities and regencies of Indonesia

Both regency and city are the same level, having their own local government and legislative body. Generally the regency has larger area than city. Regency is headed regent (bupati), and the city is headed by mayor (walikota). Regent or mayor is not responsible to the governor, because the regency and the city are not sub-entity of the province - they are elected by local popular vote (and so does the governor).

Each regency or city is divided into sub-district (kecamatan) level entities.

Sub district level

Main article: Sub-districts of Indonesia

Sub-district (kecamatan) is area within regency or city. Head of sub-district is called camat. Camat is civil servant, responsible to the regent (for regency) or to the mayor (for city).

Village level

Main article: Villages of Indonesia

Sub district is divided into village-level entities, called desa or kelurahan.

See Also

Indonesia Portal

• Cities and regencies of Indonesia

External link