Cilacap threatens to boycott port operations

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cilacap, Central Java

The Cilacap administration in Central Java has threatened to cease the operations of Tanjung Intan Seaport in protest against the central government's move to annul a bylaw on port service management.

The ruling, issued by the local government, requires the seaport operator -- state-owned PT Pelindo III -- to pay a service tax to increase Cilacap's budget revenues, following the enforcement of the regional autonomy law.

The enactment of Bylaw No. 1/2003 on seaport affairs had reportedly angered Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, who later issued a decree on Sept. 15 to annul the Cilacap administration's ruling.

Under Decree No. 53/2003, the minister ordered Cilacap Regent Probo Sulastomo to cancel the implementation of the bylaw seven days after the issuance of the decree at the latest.

The decree stated that the bylaw contravened Law No. 21/1992 on shipping, Government Regulation No. 81/2000 on navigation and Government Regulation No. 69/2001 on seaport affairs.

The three regulations stipulate that seaport safety and management systems, as well as shipping safety are still under the control of the central government, despite the implementation of the regional autonomy law.

In response, the Cilacap administration and the regency's legislative council strongly opposed the ministerial decree.

"We will not bow to the decree issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. We will go ahead with our decision to enforce the bylaw, If deemed necessary, we will boycott the seaport's operations by preventing ships from entering the harbor," senior councillor Sutoro Rono Seputro said.

Similarly, Regent Probo lashed out at the issuance of the ministerial decree.

"We should have been asked (before the central government made the decision), because not only do our people in Cilacap want to enjoy the sea's natural resources but also the port's services," he said.