Maritime borders neglected

Maritime borders neglected

Having gone through the ordeal caused by the dishonorable loss
of Sipadan and Ligitan, the learned society of scholars and
former competent government officials in the field of maritime
affairs did the right thing by convening a panel discussion on
the subject of maritime borders with neighboring countries in
Jakarta on Jan. 16 (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 17 and Jan. 20).

During the discussion, incredible data was disclosed that out
of a total of 17,508 islands, only 5,707 had names, while 11,801
had been left unnamed.

The question of giving names to the islands is necessary to
identify the country's small islands bordering the maritime
territory of neighboring countries.

More prominent data coming from the discussion divulged the
fact that the country does not yet have an up-to-date
comprehensive map of its maritime borders, although government
regulation No. 38/2002 is in force and has set down 183 base
points as references in determining the borders of the Indonesian
seas. Some 27 base points are reportedly missing in the said
regulation (the Post, Jan. 20).

The crucial aspect of the map in this respect lies in its
function of confirming, inter alia, the base points, points of
sea territory, continental coastline and EEZ, which are to be
submitted to the UN Secretary-General in New York. This is
necessary for attaining international recognition of the
Indonesian maritime borders in international law.

Ominous repercussions to the effect that a number of 87 small
islands sharing maritime borders with neighboring countries are
susceptible to engendering border disputes, was pointed out in a
warning from the Navy chief of staff, Admiral Bernard Kent
Sondakh.

In terms of priority, the Navy chief of staff, in a call for
the government's quick attention, singled out 11 islands out of
which five islands were specifically mentioned by name. They are:
Patek island, bordering on East Timor; Miangas, bordering on
Mindanao, the Philippines; Mapia, bordering on Papua; Pasir Laut
island, borders on Australia; and Nipah island, bordering on
Singapore. See Kompas, Jan. 18.

Naturally, the above account represents just the tip of the
iceberg of the problem surrounding Indonesia's maritime borders.
This is an opportune time for the government and the House of
Representatives' Commission I to pay heed to the Navy chief's
appeal and exercise vigilance so as to ward off a recurrence of
the disgraceful tragedy of losing more islands. A pledge in that
respect to the founding fathers and the future generations is in
order.

S. SUHAEDI, Jakarta