ABSTRACT
Regional autonomy provides flexibility for a region to discover the potential of and manage its own natural resources. This eliminates jealousy or injustice between the central and local governments. Aceh, DKI-Jakarta, and DIY-Yogyakarta are the three provinces in Indonesia specially recognized as autonomous regions, with privileges different from those of other provinces. This study is normative-empirical legal research (applied normative law) with positive law researches written with regards to the behavior of citizens due to normative legal enforceability. The results showed that autonomy was implemented in Indonesia through Law No. 22 of 1999 on Regional Government. In 2004, this law was considered incompatible, and, due to the development of the state, public administration, and the demands of regional autonomy, it was replaced with Law No. 32. Furthermore, Law No. 32 of 2004 on Regional Government has been amended several times, with the most recent being Law No. 12 of 2008. This is an excellent opportunity for local government to prove its ability to implement the rights of local authorities and create freedom of expression in order to develop the area and avoid violating the law.
