Indonesia hails enforcement of UN sea law
Indonesia hails enforcement of UN sea law
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia yesterday hailed the enforcement of
the UN's Law of the Sea Convention which finally grants world
recognition to the concept of Indonesia as an archipelagic state.
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
Soesilo Soedarman announced yesterday that Indonesia's
territorial waters will automatically increase by three million
square kilometers when the convention goes into effect on Nov.
16.
Indonesia has been fighting for 37 years to gain international
recognition of its status as an archipelagic state, a concept
which grants Indonesia sovereignty over all the waters that lie
between its 17,000 islands.
"We're happy because our 37 years of fighting have now paid
off," Soesilo said after the meeting.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was enacted in 1982
but its enforcement was postponed until this year largely because
of resistance from some powerful countries.
Soesilo convened a special coordinating meeting at his office
yesterday to review Indonesia's preparation in anticipation of
convention's enactment, the Antara news agency reported.
The meeting determined that much needs to be done.
"There are hundreds, may be even thousands, of issues that we
need to resolve in connection with the convention," Soesilo told
reporters after the meeting. "As a consequence, we will not be
able as yet to fully exercise our sovereignty over all our
territorial waters."
Among the most important issues cited by Soesilo are the need
to draft new laws and regulations in compliance with the
convention and the archipelagic state concept and also
regulations pertaining to the exclusive economic zone and the
continental shelf.
Disputes
Indonesia must also resolve border disputes with a number of
neighboring countries, including Australia and Vietnam, who, in
regards to the sea, have overlapping claims with Indonesia.
Soesilo said that the armada of the Indonesian Navy is also
insufficient to guard all its territorial waters, especially now
with the addition of the three million square kilometers.
The Navy is now expecting to receive 39 warships from the
former East German arsenal, beefing up its strength considerably.
The Navy needs more submarines to guard the vital Indonesian
straits which are also international sea lanes, he said, adding
that ideally the Navy should possess four submarines.
He stressed, however, that the Navy's armada will be
strengthened in line with the state's budget capability.
Senior diplomat Hasjim Djalal, who is Indonesia's foremost
expert on the law of the sea, said that under the archipelagic
state concept, which is recognized by the UN convention,
Indonesia now has the right to determine the sea passages for
international ships passing through its territory.
Hasjim, who accompanied Soesilo at the press briefing, said
Indonesia will be consulting with foreign users of Indonesia's
sea lanes to determine where the passages will be located. (emb)