Seribu Islands' status hits snag, says speaker

JAKARTA (JP): The deadline for the establishment of the Seribu Islands as an administrative regency, set for Aug. 31 at the latest, will likely be put off due to the absence of a supporting regulation on the upgrading of the island group's status.

City Council speaker Edy Waluyo said on Monday that the Council could not issue a City Bylaw on the upgrading of the Seribu Islands' status from a district to a regency as the central government had yet to issue the necessary Government Regulation.

The city administration had earlier pledged to elevate the administrative status of the islands before the city's 474th anniversary in June, but the plan was postponed due to the various obstacles that became apparent, including the inadequate infrastructure.

Citing Law No. 34/1999 on Jakarta's status as the country's capital, Deputy Governor Abdul Kahfi said that the Seribu Islands district would be upgraded to an administrative regency two years after the law was enacted on Aug. 31, 1999.

As a district, the Seribu Islands are currently under the North Jakarta mayoralty. When its status is upgraded, it will come directly under the Governor.

Meanwhile, the council's deputy speaker, Djafar Badjeber, said that the central government should immediately decide on whether or not it will issue a Government Regulation for the upgrading of the islands' status. If the central government deems it is not necessary, then it should make a written statement to the city council.

"The city administration might think that a government regulation is not necessary, but legally, it is indeed needed before we (the council) issue a city bylaw on the upgrading of the islands' status," said Djafar.

The Seribu Islands district has 17,891 local residents, mostly impoverished fishermen and their families. The proposed regency will consist of two districts to be called North Seribu Islands and South Seribu Islands.

The Tangerang authorities said recently that they wanted nine of the islands located near the coastline, namely Rambut, Karang, Laki, Cangkir, Bokor, Karang Tiga, Gosong, Untung Jawa and Ubi Kecil, to be recognized as coming within Tangerang's jurisdiction.

According to the Tangerang authorities, Jakarta has no reason to manage and supervise the nine islands as, geographically, they are positioned closer to the Tangerang coast than any part of Jakarta.

The matter is still being discussed by officials from the two neighboring administrations.

Another councillor, Syarifien Maloko, deputy chairman of the council's Commission A for administrative affairs, said it would be better for the city administration to resolve the problem first before changing the status of the Seribu Islands. (04)