House asks govt to explain `loss of islands' to public

House asks govt to explain `loss of islands' to public

Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives (DPR) demanded Wednesday that the
government explain to the public the "loss of two islands" to
avoid a backlash after the International Court of Justice ruled
that the long-disputed islands of Sipadan and Ligitan belonged to
Malaysia.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Wednesday the government
should publicize and explain the court's decision, which has
forced Indonesia drop its territorial claim on the two islands.

"We are all shocked and disappointed by the results," said
Akbar in a joint press briefing with foreign minister Hassan
Wirayuda.

"We accept the government's explanation, but the public needs
a detailed explanation since there is a feeling that Indonesia
has just lost two islands," he added.

For three decades, Indonesia and Malaysia were at loggerheads
over the ownership of the Sipadan and Ligitan islands on the
northernmost tip of East Kalimantan's shores.

Although tiny, the two islands are said to be rich in natural
resources, and Sipadan features one of the richest diving scenes
in the Southeast Asian region.

Both countries agreed to let the United Nations' highest
judicial body, the International Court of Justice at The Hague,
Netherlands, to settle the dispute through legal proceedings
which began in 1997.

Akbar said that, when the government brought the dispute
before the international court, the chances of claiming the two
islands were fifty-fifty.

Taking into consideration Malaysia's undoubted administrative
control over the two islands, however, the court ruled 16-1
against Indonesia.

Following the ruling, critics have likened the islands' loss
to former province East Timor, which Indonesia lost in a 1999
ballot when locals overwhelmingly voted for independence.

"Then, East Timor; now, another two (islands)?" asked Akbar as
he echoed these criticisms.

Minister Hassan explained that even without the court's
decision, the two islands had never really belonged to Indonesia.
He revealed that a 1960 law delineating the borders of Indonesian
territory did not include the Sipadan and Ligitan islands on its
map.

However, the same was the case with Malaysian maps before the
early 1970s when the dispute with Indonesia surfaced, he added.
"Both countries have neglected to include the islands on their
maps."

In regards the demands to publicize an explanation of the
ruling, he said his office would comply.

"This is sensitive politics as it concerns our sovereignty, so
we will engage in efforts to explain the facts, the string of
thoughts, the arguments from both sides," he said.

Despite the disappointment, Indonesia said the decision would
not affect its ties with Malaysia. The Indonesian delegation at
The Hague congratulated Malaysia on its victory and Abdul Irsan,
the Indonesian ambassador to the Netherlands, said the priority
was on peace, stability and order in the region.

From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
voiced his relief. "We are thankful that this problem has finally
been settled peacefully," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Foreign political analysts have said the threat of territorial
disputes in Southeast Asia have taken a backseat with the rise of
transnational crimes like terrorism.

However, Indonesia should still maintain a watch over
simmering friction with neighboring countries, even though
transnational crime posed the biggest threat now, they said.