President Megawati indecisive on sand exportation issue

President Megawati indecisive on sand exportation issue

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Riau Governor Mohamad Rusli and Minister of Maritime and Fishery
Rokhmin Dahuri competed on Friday for President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's endorsement of their opposite stances over the
sea sand export policy to Singapore.

The governor, whose provincial revenue depends greatly on the
lucrative sand export, urged the President to lift the complete
ban of sand exports from Riau to Singapore, assuring her that he
was ready with a more environmentally friendly sand quarrying
system.

Meanwhile, the minister told the President the government
should stick to the prohibition for the sake of the country's
territorial integrity.

"I believe that it could be done properly as long as it does
not damage the environment," the governor said after meeting with
the President.

The governor, who met with her before the minister, said that
the province was ready to comply with the zoning map that has
been issued by the central government should the sand mining be
resumed.

Megawati, however, did not give a firm answer to the governor.
"The President only said the issue would be discussed further,"
Rusli replied, when asked about Megawati's comment on the
request.

The minister, who is in charge for the sand export issue, was
not convinced of the governor's commitment.

"I'd be grateful if the local authority is ready to comply
with the map. But even with that, we still cannot resume the
mining before we officially determine the sea border with
Singapore."

The governor is not alone. Minister of Industry and Trade Rini
Suwandi proposed the resumption of the export by imposing tough
regulations and increase the selling price. She is of the opinion
that illegal exports had become more rampant with the embargo
policy.

Separately, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said
that Singapore had agreed to discuss the border issue through a
joint commission between the two countries. However, no date has
been set to open the new round of negotiations.

One of the government's reasons for prohibiting sand exports
to Singapore in January last year, was to curb illegal sand
mining that had seriously damaged the province's maritime
environment. Several islets there are under serious threat of
disappearing due to erosion as the protective sand barriers are
removed.

The decision also was made because there is a possibility that
the sea border between the two countries will cut further into
what is now Indonesian territory if the islets between the two
countries disappear.

Environmental groups, like the Indonesian Environmental Forum
(Walhi) supported the decision to halt the dredging, saying that
it ruins the coral reef and damages the sea ecosystem around Riau
islands.

Another reason is to force Singapore's government to resume
negotiations to determine the two countries' sea boundary. There
is growing concern here that Singapore used Riau's sand to expand
the extent of its territory through its coastal reclamation.

Over the next seven years, the country is expected to import
some 1.8 billion cubic meters.

Meanwhile, Rokhmin insisted that the government would not
change its position as long as Singapore did not change its
stance.

"As long as there is no border arrangement with Singapore we
will not lift the ban, we may continue with the export if they
are willing to discuss the border issue with us," said Rokhmin.