Autonomy upsets fishermen: Police
Autonomy upsets fishermen: Police
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon
A misperception of the Regional Autonomy Law has frequently
triggered violent conflicts among fishermen operating along
Java's coastal areas, Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Erwin
Mappaseng says.
"The police have attended a great number of violent incidents
among fishermen since the implementation of regional autonomy in
January 2000 because they have misunderstood the autonomy
program," Erwin said during a tour of Cirebon on Wednesday.
He said violence among fishermen had often happened because
fishermen in West Java did not want those from Central and East
Java fishing in the province's waters.
"Fishermen here have indirectly claimed the province's waters
to be theirs," he said. "Autonomy does not mean that fishermen
from other provinces are not allowed to fish in West Java
waters."
Erwin, accompanied Adj. Sr. Comr. Siswandi, chief of the
Cirebon Police Precinct, called on provincial and regency
administrations in Java to educate the public on the autonomy
program to help eliminate conflict among the people.
"The police have no means to explain the regional autonomy to
the people," he added.
The misperception of the regional autonomy still has happened
not only at the grassroots level but also among the political
elite, especially concerning gubernatorial and regent elections.
Asked about the rife piracy on Java waters, Mappaseng denied
it, saying he had never received any reports on piracy in the
waters.
He added he had enhanced coordination with the Navy to
supervise the waters in anticipation of illegal fishing by
foreign fishermen.
Col. Budhi S. Yitno, commandant of the Cirebon naval base,
said last week that there had been at least five attacks by
pirates in the last two months.
"The prevalent piracy has raised unrest among local fishermen
and so far, no action has been taken by the local marine police
unit," he said, saying the piracies were well organized because
pirates had used communication systems and speedboats in their
operations.