Seribu Islands needs clear regulations and authority<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A marine expert and a businessman said on
\nTuesday that the city administration's plan to elevate the status
\nof Seribu Islands from a district to a regency next year would
\nnot enhance the people's welfare unless there are clear
\nregulations and authority for the new regency.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Bina Samudra Foundation Ismu Sutanto
\nSuwelo and chairman of the Association of Marine Tourism
\nBusinessmen in Thousand Islands Djafar Tirtosentono said that as
\nlong as the government issued inconsistent regulations, elevating
\nthe status of the islands will not do any good for its people.<\/p>\n
\"There is no clear regulation on who is really in charge of
\nthe islands. There are two oil refineries in these islands but
\nonly the central government is authorized to collect the
\nrevenue,\" Djafar said while addressing a three-day seminar at the
\nBidakara Complex in South Jakarta on the planning of the Thousand
\nIslands.<\/p>\n
He said many of the government's decisions turned out to be
\ndisadvantages for the locals.<\/p>\n
\"Some of the islands have been declared as national parks, so
\nthe locals cannot do anything with their lands because as they
\nare prohibited from doing so. They cannot do anything to improve
\nthe quality of their lives but they have to pay taxes for the
\nland and buildings,\" Djafar said.<\/p>\n
\"If the government wants to maintain the land as national
\nparks, it should provide some compensation for these people so
\nthat they can improve their lives,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Djafar stressed that elevating the status was less important
\nthan taking an integrated and concrete action to help improve the
\nlife of the locals.<\/p>\n
\"Probably, the government should establish an agency to take
\ncare of the Thousand Islands,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The city administration's decision to elevate the status of
\nthe Thousand Islands is an implementation of Law No. 34\/1999 on
\nthe New Status of the Thousand Islands.<\/p>\n
The Thousand Islands, an area of 69,976 square kilometers
\n(some 9,214 square kilometers of which are land), is a popular
\nmarine resort. It is currently a district under the North Jakarta
\nmayoralty.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives approved in 1998 a draft law on
\nregional administrations which stipulates that the Thousand
\nIslands will be upgraded from a district to an administrative
\nmayoralty.<\/p>\n
At least 28 of the 108 islands are individually owned, while
\n34 others are owned by private companies and used as resorts.
\nOnly 11 islands are permanently inhabited.<\/p>\n
Currently, the State Secretariat has the power to sell these
\nislands. It remains unclear if with the implementation of Law No.
\n22\/1999 on regional autonomy in January next year, this authority
\nwould be shifted to the city administration.<\/p>\n
Addressing the same seminar, Ismu said a large area of the
\nThousand Islands had been declared a national park which
\ntherefore have to be preserved and used in accordance to the
\nregulation.<\/p>\n
\"However, in reality the city administration often issued
\ndifferent land permits for these islands,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"For example, the Sebaru Kecil island, which has been declared
\na natural conservatory, is categorized as a recreational area by
\nthe city administration. But there are many cottages found in the
\nislands now,\" Ismu cited.<\/p>\n
Expressing his discontent, Ismu said the inconsistency between
\nregulations issued by the city administration and the central
\ngovernment would probably never be sorted out because the
\ngovernment had yet to discuss on the administrative authority for
\nthe islands after the implementation of regional autonomy. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/seribu-islands-needs-clear-regulations-and-authority-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}