For most Indonesians, autonomy is a word with a positive connotation. Therefore, the package of autonomy laws, effective as of January 1, 2001, is seen as a promising New Year gift. But not all citizens share this attitude. Some of them even respond to it with apprehension, including bodies that have for years been campaigning for autonomy, such as the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi).

Various reasons have been given for the hesitati