INDONESIA COMMITTED TO PROTECTING RESOURCE-RICH NATUNA WATERS by Fardah

Jakarta, June 24, 2016 (Antara)- President Joko Widodo's limited cabinet meeting aboard Indonesian warship KRI Imam Bonjol in the Natuna waters, directly linked to the South China Sea, on June 23, signals the nation's commitment to maintaining its territorial sovereignty.

        KRI Imam Bonjol-383 was the same warship that had foiled an attempt by a group of Chinese fishing vessels to poach in Indonesia's exclusive economic zone in the Natuna waters on June 17 and had detained one of the vessels and its seven Chinese crew members.

        The arrest had triggered a protest by the Chinese government, which claimed that the fishing vessels were in the so-called "Chinese traditional fishing grounds," something that had never been recognized by Indonesia.

        During the rare sea trip to the Natuna waters, the president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, Maritime and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, and Armed Forces Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo.

        The meeting on board the naval warship was held to discuss the economic potential of the Natuna Islands, which are viewed as the country's strategic zone.  

   President Widodo is keen to prioritize economic development in the Natuna Islands, especially in the fishery and energy sectors, Minister Retno remarked.

        The minister affirmed that Indonesia was a big country, and its waters constituted two-thirds of the nation's territory.

        "From the onset, President Widodo's government has given greater attention to development of the outer regions, and this time it is the turn of Natuna Islands, which are among the country's outermost regions," she pointed out.    
   Natuna is known to have one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world, and its rich fishery resources have drawn foreign fishing boats to poach in its waters.

        The minister highlighted the need to protect the sovereignty of the country in Natuna.

        During the meeting, the president heard reports from his ministries about projects to be built  and progress of projects under construction in Natuna.

        According to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, there are 16  offshore oil and gas blocks in Natuna  and five of them have been in operation  and the rest are in the process of development.

    
Meanwhile Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiati reported about development of integrated project in fishery sector in Natuna.

          Military Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo reported about plan to build defense system around Natuna.

          Furthermore, the Indonesian Navy has continued patrolling to maintain security of the territory under Indonesian jurisdiction and as part of the commitment of the navy chief of staff Admiral Ade Supandi to enforce law in the sea.

          "Whatever is its flag, if a boat violates Indonesia's jurisdiction we, the Indonesian Navy, will not hesitate to act," he said.

          In the meantime, earlier Minister Luhut reaffirmed that the country's navy ship had detained the Chinese fishing boat Han Tan Cou 19038 in accordance with international procedures.

          "Our sovereignty was not a matter of bargain. Based on international laws, our position is very strong," the chief security minister said on June 22.

          He explained that according to international laws, a foreign ship need not have an operation permit to be in the exclusive economic zone but when it has economic motive, it must secure a permit. Otherwise, firm action in the form of arrest and detention of the vessel must be taken if it is found violating territorial limits.

          On June 21, Minister Susi told the press in her Jakarta office that Indonesia wants other countries to honor its EEZ and will treat ships conducting illegal fishing in its waters equally regardless of their origin country.

          Susi remarked that no single agreement on traditional fishing grounds had yet been signed with China, and so, Chinese ships conducting fishing in the area will be found guilty of violating the Indonesian laws.

          The minister affirmed that Indonesia had, so far, only inked an agreement over traditional fishing grounds with Malaysia, and it was also limited to an area in the Malacca Strait.

          Susi reminded that with regard to the international waters, all countries were bound by the UNCLOS, which had been ratified by almost all nations in the world.

         She emphasized that the government did not grant special privileges to any country as it equally treated all vessels found conducting illegal fishing in Indonesia.

    
The government¿s plan to strengthen military base in the Natuna islands to protect the Indonesian sovereignty  and to enforce law in the border region has been lauded by Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives Hanafi Rais .

          "Making Natuna a military base is our way of enforcing the law  and at the same time to preserve our sovereignty," Hanafi said.

          He said the Commission I already gave its agreement last year to a plan to build a complete military base in Natuna to be carried out by phases.

         The June 17 incident was the third involving the Indonesian authorities and Chinese fishing vessels. The previous ones occurred in March and May this year. ***2***
  
(f001/INE)
EDITED BY INE

(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 24-06-2016 16:39:55