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.