Banten's islands claim rejected

Banten's islands claim rejected

JAKARTA: The city administration rejected on Monday a claim by
Banten province that 22 islands in Kepulauan Seribu (Seribu
Islands) regency belonged to the province.

"The islands belong to us according to the law. Banten may
claim the islands, but they should change the law first," City
Governor Sutiyoso said, referring to Law No. 34/1999 on the
Jakarta administration.

He said government regulation No. 55/2001 on Kepulauan Seribu
regency also strengthened the argument that they belonged to the
city.

Newly established Banten Council reportedly planned to set up
a special team to prepare for the acquisition of the islands,
which are located to the north of Jakarta.

Earlier, Tangerang regency, in Banten province, also claimed
that the islands belonged to the regency, since they were located
nearer to Tangerang than Jakarta.

Separately, city councillor Tjuk Sudono of the National
Mandate Party (PAN) said Banten's claim to the islands was an
overreaction to the regional autonomy program. Such a reaction
could make provinces fight each other in their own interests, he
said. --JP