House passes law endorsing archipelagic state concept

House passes law endorsing archipelagic state concept

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives passed a law
yesterday that gives legitimacy to Indonesia's claim to be an
archipelagic state.

The 27 articles of the Law on Indonesian Territorial Waters
spell out among others the sovereignty, jurisdiction and the
rights as well as obligations of Indonesia over the 5.8 million
square kilometers of land and water it claims sovereignty over.

Under the archipelagic state concept, Indonesia claims
sovereignty over the waters that lie between the islands, put by
the government at 17,508. Indonesia has also stated a 20-mile
zone of sovereignty and a 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

The bill, which was presented by the government, was endorsed
by all four factions of the House at a plenary session led by
deputy speaker Soetedjo. Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman
represented the government at the session.

The law, which replaces the 1960 Law on Indonesian Territorial
Waters, now awaits President Soeharto's signature for approval.

Oetojo said a new law was deemed necessary in view of changes
that have taken place since 1960, including the signing of the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982, which
recognizes the archipelagic state concept.

The UN convention, to which Indonesia is a signatory, formally
came into effect last year after a protracted debate in the face
of strong objections from the United States and other major
powers.

Indonesia declared itself an archipelagic state as far back as
1957, asserting its right to exercise sovereignty and exploit the
resources in the vast sea that it claims, as well as control over
some of the international sea lanes that pass through the
archipelago.

Indonesia is currently also negotiating to delineate its sea
boundaries with Vietnam to the north and Australia to the south
where there are overlapping territorial claims.

The law was passed ahead of the government's announcement,
expected this week, deregulating the fishing industry in a bid to
bolster the country's economic fishing potential.

Legislator H.J. Hutagaol, representing the majority Golkar
faction at the session, urged the government to resolve quickly
existing territorial disputes with neighboring countries.

The United Development Party (PPP) faction, represented by H.
Masrur Javas, underlined the need for Indonesia to protect its
maritime interests, noting that current arrangements are still
inadequate.

Citing government figures, Masrur said fishery resources from
Indonesia's vast sea territory could potentially reach 6.7
million tons a year, comprising 4.4 million tons from the 20-mile
zone and another 2.3 million from the exclusive economic zone.

Indonesia currently manages to catch only 3. 05 million tons a
year, or less than half of the potential, he noted.

Soeharjanto, representing the Armed Forces faction, said the
government should notify the United Nations of the geographical
coordinates of the territorial claims resulting from the new law.
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