Thousand islands' bylaw approved<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The City Council has approved the establishment
\nof two districts in Kepulauan Seribu (the Thousand islands)
\nregency and urged the city administration to reclaim some of the
\nislands, which have been privately managed by business magnates.<\/p>\n
The bylaw, which was approved during the Council's plenary
\nsession here on Wednesday, divides the regency into South
\nKepulauan Seribu district and North Kepulauan Seribu district.<\/p>\n
The former has its district office in Tidung island, while the
\nlatter has its in Kelapa island.<\/p>\n
The regency, located north of Jakarta, has 17,800 residents on
\n11 islands, while more than 60 small islands remain uninhabited.<\/p>\n
The Unity and Justice Party (PKP) faction, in its final
\ncomment on the bylaw, asked the administration to review the
\ncertificates of the privately owned islands.<\/p>\n
\"If it were found that the certificates were no longer valid,
\nthey should not be extended. The islands should be used in a
\nmanner that benefits the public interest,\" faction spokesman
\nPosman Siahaan said in the Council's plenary session.<\/p>\n
Posman said the administration should realize that some owners
\nof the privately managed islands were not hospitable to the local
\nresidents.<\/p>\n
He said that when local fishermen were forced to stop at the
\nislands in an emergency, for example if their boat developed
\nengine problems or suffered damage, the islands' security guards
\nwould react very harshly toward them. They would order the
\nfishermen to leave by firing warning shots in the air.<\/p>\n
\"It was as though there was something secret at the islands
\nthat had to be hidden from the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Guns<\/p>\n
Besides reviewing the certificates for the islands, Posman
\nurged the administration to investigate the ownership documents
\nfor guns used by the security guards.<\/p>\n
The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction also urged the
\nadministration to review the ownership of the islands, especially
\nthose owned by individuals.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that environmental damage in the Thousand Islands
\nhas had something to do with the individual ownership of some of
\nthe islands,\" faction spokesman Tjuk Sudono said in the plenary
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Tjuk asked the administration to increase its supervision of
\nthe islands in order to avoid more environmental damage.<\/p>\n
However, the Golkar Party faction urged the administration to
\nexercise caution in revoking the certificates.<\/p>\n
\"The administration should cooperate with good private
\ninvestors to manage the islands,\" faction spokeswoman Anna
\nRudhiantina said, adding, however, that the administration should
\nbe careful in selecting the investors.<\/p>\n
Some 40 islands among the 110 in the regency are reportedly
\nowned or managed by private companies.<\/p>\n
Some of the 40 islands have been developed into tourist
\nresorts, such as Bidadari, Matahari, Putri and Ayer, while the
\nremainder have been used privately by several business magnates.<\/p>\n
Bank owner Tommy Winata, publisher Surya Paloh, hotelier
\nPontjo Sutowo and property tycoon Ciputra are among businessmen
\nwho own islands.<\/p>\n
Former President Soeharto's children, Sigit Harjojudanto, Siti
\nHardijanti Rukmana, Bambang Trihatmodjo and Soeharto's half
\nbrother Probosutedjo are also reported to be island owners.(jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thousand-islands-bylaw-approved-1447893297",
"image": ""
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