THE hullabaloo of the 2004 General Elections is still seven months away, but an ill wind has started to blow into a number of regions in the past month. It has been triggered by President Megawati Sukarnoputri's intention to issue a decree proclaiming a moratorium (freeze) on the holding of elections for regional administration chiefs in 2004.

To members of regional legislatures, this is a very worrisome plan. For, it threatens to deprive th