Thousand islands' bylaw approved
JAKARTA (JP): The City Council has approved the establishment of two districts in Kepulauan Seribu (the Thousand islands) regency and urged the city administration to reclaim some of the islands, which have been privately managed by business magnates.
The bylaw, which was approved during the Council's plenary session here on Wednesday, divides the regency into South Kepulauan Seribu district and North Kepulauan Seribu district.
The former has its district office in Tidung island, while the latter has its in Kelapa island.
The regency, located north of Jakarta, has 17,800 residents on 11 islands, while more than 60 small islands remain uninhabited.
The Unity and Justice Party (PKP) faction, in its final comment on the bylaw, asked the administration to review the certificates of the privately owned islands.
"If it were found that the certificates were no longer valid, they should not be extended. The islands should be used in a manner that benefits the public interest," faction spokesman Posman Siahaan said in the Council's plenary session.
Posman said the administration should realize that some owners of the privately managed islands were not hospitable to the local residents.
He said that when local fishermen were forced to stop at the islands in an emergency, for example if their boat developed engine problems or suffered damage, the islands' security guards would react very harshly toward them. They would order the fishermen to leave by firing warning shots in the air.
"It was as though there was something secret at the islands that had to be hidden from the people," he said.
Guns
Besides reviewing the certificates for the islands, Posman urged the administration to investigate the ownership documents for guns used by the security guards.
The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction also urged the administration to review the ownership of the islands, especially those owned by individuals.
"We believe that environmental damage in the Thousand Islands has had something to do with the individual ownership of some of the islands," faction spokesman Tjuk Sudono said in the plenary session.
Tjuk asked the administration to increase its supervision of the islands in order to avoid more environmental damage.
However, the Golkar Party faction urged the administration to exercise caution in revoking the certificates.
"The administration should cooperate with good private investors to manage the islands," faction spokeswoman Anna Rudhiantina said, adding, however, that the administration should be careful in selecting the investors.
Some 40 islands among the 110 in the regency are reportedly owned or managed by private companies.
Some of the 40 islands have been developed into tourist resorts, such as Bidadari, Matahari, Putri and Ayer, while the remainder have been used privately by several business magnates.
Bank owner Tommy Winata, publisher Surya Paloh, hotelier Pontjo Sutowo and property tycoon Ciputra are among businessmen who own islands.
Former President Soeharto's children, Sigit Harjojudanto, Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Bambang Trihatmodjo and Soeharto's half brother Probosutedjo are also reported to be island owners.(jun)