REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government said it would not bow to violent demand by Luwu Tengah that seeks to be promoted into a new autonomous district.
Currently, Luwu Tengah is part of the regency of Luwu in the province of South Sulawesi.
People of Luwu Tengah has demanded the promotion of that district into an autonomous district as a new regency separated from Luwu.
In seeking to press for their demand the people blocked the Trans Sulawesi for two days, paralyzing transport via the main highway in the region.
Violence then broke out and a man was killed in a conflict in the sub-district of Walenrang Lamasin.
Hundreds of police and military personnel had to be sent to that location to disperse the demonstrators of about two thousands of people blocking the highway on Tuesday.
The Home Affairs Ministry gave negative signal to the demand after the violence.
"The attempt to secure the autonomous position would not be easier for Luwu Tengah with the violence.
"On the contrary, it would leave a bad record for that district," Djohermansyah Djohan, the director general for regional autonomy, said here on Wednesday.
Using force to demand autonomy is against the purpose of autonomy, which is aimed at improving the welfare of the people, Djohan said.
The Home Affairs Ministry asked local officials and political leaders to resort to democratic norm in conveying the aspirations of the local people, he said.
"It was a tragedy to democracy that life has to be sacrificed in seeking autonomy," he said.
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