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.