Sea traffic unaffected by closure of Aceh waters
Sea traffic unaffected by closure of Aceh waters
Rendi A. Witular and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Shipping players said the recent move from the martial law
administrator in Aceh to close Aceh waters to foreign ships would
not affect the overall cargo shipping routes through Malacca
strait.
Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ship Owners Association
(INSA) Widihardja Tanudjaja told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday
the closure would only target foreign ships unregistered with the
Indonesian ports.
"The policy will not disturb the sea traffic in Malacca
Strait, as the government only looks for foreign ships that
trespassed into Aceh's 12 nautical mile territorial waters and
those without adequate shipping documents," said Widihardja.
Widihardja, who is also the president of PT Berlian Laju
Tanker shipping company, added that ships passing the
international route along Malacca Strait were not subject to war-
risk insurance since the international shipping committees had
not yet listed Aceh as a war zone area.
The strait also abuts the neighboring Malaysia and Singapore
territories.
On Tuesday, an oil tanker flying a Panamanian flag was
intercepted at Sabang port on Weh Island following the
restriction.
More than 300 cargo vessels every day pass the 621-mile long
strait which connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The strait is the shortest sea route between three of the
world's most populous countries -- India, China and Indonesia --
and therefore is considered the key checkpoint in Asia.
The martial law administrator closed Aceh waters apparently to
prevent arms smuggling for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels
from Thailand and Malaysia.
Foreign vessels are subject to shooting should they enter the
restricted zone without proper permits, and those with permits
are also subject to inspection.
The military authorities have ensured that ships belonging to
foreign companies operating in Aceh will be exempted from the new
policy.
However, it was not immediately clear whether the closure will
encroach the international passage Indonesia has to provide
according the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS).
According to the convention, Indonesia enjoys a special
treatment as an archipelagic state. The status allows the country
to determine its sea territory which is drawn 12 nautical miles
from the outermost coastlines of the country.
In return for the special calculation, Indonesia must provide
international passage for foreign vessels.
To support the martial law administrator's policy, the
Indonesian government will issue a Notice of Marine to restrict
foreign ships from Indonesian waters around Aceh.
Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar said on Wednesday that
his ministry, the authorized institution to issue the notice,
would help make the military operation a success.
Agum was visiting the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh to deliver
humanitarian aid for Aceh people, who are facing shortage of
staple food supply as the armed conflict intensifies.