Seribu Islands' status hits snag, says speaker

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)