Sipadan, Ligitan dispute continues
Sipadan, Ligitan dispute continues
By Alfitra Salamm
JAKARTA (JP): A quarter century has passed, but there is still no light at the end of the tunnel as far as the conflict over the Sipadan and Ligitan islands is concerned. So far, the definitive owner of these two islands has yet to be negotiated. What is obvious is that the working groups from the two disputing countries, Malaysia and Indonesia, have sat together for the third time with no significant result.
The Langkawi meeting between President Soeharto and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on July 17, 1993, had talks over the dispute on the Sipadan island on its agenda. But, apparently, the summit as well as the working group meetings only served the purpose of keeping the tension under control rather than finding the real solution.
The confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia (1963-1966) has taught a hard lesson, and it is regarded as a joint sin that should never be repeated. This bitter past always haunted both the Malaysian and Indonesian peoples in the years after the end of the confrontation up to the early 1980s, and therefore they always called on the brotherhood spirit to find the solution to whatever problems that might come up between them.
The dispute on the Sipadan and Ligitan islands, which started in 1969 as the two countries were in the process of determining their continental shelf boundaries, was settled by resorting to a status quo. The status quo was considered the best option at that time.
Malaysia's shift from semangat serumpun (the brotherhood spirit) to a more rational relationship, that started in 1980s, has brought about a change in the relationship between this country and Indonesia. This change appears to have complicated the efforts of finding satisfactory solutions to problems that arise between the two neighbors.
The situation is even more complex when it comes to Sipadan and Ligitan, as it clearly embodies a competition for sea resources and the strategic location of the two islands. However, since the trauma of the confrontation still trails the two peoples, it is hard to imagine the outbreak of a 'civil war' that some people in the Indonesian House of Representatives have worried about. The determination to settle the dispute through diplomatic efforts is evident in the agreement between the Indonesian and Malaysian governments to avoid the use of arms. This agreement was signed two years ago.
At present, there is an indication that Malaysia has chosen a less accommodating stance in the effort of finding a solution. In the eye of the Indonesian government, by deciding to allow tourism activities on the Sipadan island, Malaysia tends to disregard the agreement to maintain the status quo. Furthermore, last year's maneuver drills involving combined troops of Malaysia -- with a scenario that included recouping an island -- could be seen as a psychological warfare against Indonesia.
In seeking an end to the dispute, the two countries have always shied away from any third-party intervention. One reason for this is the lack of strong evidence that could be used in their argumentation.
Therefore, Malaysia's initiative of suggesting to bring the case before the International Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, is perhaps not the best option. If Malaysia continues to press on with this suggestion, it may be viewed as a disregard of the existence of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Until today, ASEAN member countries have never requested the help of the ASEAN High Council in settling their conflicts. The Sipadan and Ligitan dispute is actually a very good opportunity for both Malaysia and Indonesia to establish the credibility of ASEAN further by letting this organization assist them in finding the solution.
The best solution is, of course, one that comes out of bilateral negotiation. If a bilateral agreement were to be sought, one possible alternative would be to establish joint operations on the two islands based on common economic, defense and security interests.
At any rate, a solution should be reached as soon as possible -- rather than letting it become a thorn in the side of the relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia.
The writer is a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences and an official of the Insan Politika Foundation in Jakarta.