INDONESIA MAINTAINS UNWAVERING STANCE ON ITS SOVEREIGNTY OVER NATUNA WATERS by Fardah

Jakarta, July 2, 2016 (Antara)- Indonesia has never altered its position that the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Natuna waters, and all its resources, fall within its sovereign territories, and asks other countries to honor this fact.

         The EEZ and all its riches are the sovereign property of a country. Any agreement on its exploitation must have the signatures of those countries involved, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti stated recently, referring to a claim by the Chinese government that the Natuna sea is its "traditional fishing ground."    
    The Indonesian government, however, does not accept the Chinese claim and insists that it will indiscriminately apprehend ships conducting illegal fishing in its waters, regardless of their origin country.

           The minister remarked that no single agreement on traditional fishing grounds had yet been signed with China, and so, Chinese ships fishing in the area will be considered to be violating Indonesian laws.

           Indonesia has, so far, only inked an agreement over traditional fishing grounds with Malaysia, which is limited to an area in the Malacca Strait, according to Susi Pudjiastuti.

          Further, she recalled that, with regard to the international waters, all countries were bound by the UNCLOS, which had been ratified by almost all nations throughout the world.

          For her, fighting illegal fishing is part of upholding the nation¿s sovereignty.    
     Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing does not just concern fishermen and boats, but also the borders of a country, which marks a country's sovereignty, she said.

         Additionally, Susi Pudjiastuti outlined three guiding principles of her ministry, namely sovereignty, sustainability and prosperity.

          Based on the ministry's data, throughout 2015 until June 2016, the government had detained and sunk 176 ships found fishing illegally in Indonesian waters.

          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has lauded the Task Force on Illegal Fishing, or Task Force 115, for detaining illegal fishing vessels operating in Indonesian waters.

          "Do not stop; it should not be stopped. Consistency is crucial in order to demonstrate that we are serious, and we take things very seriously," President Jokowi added.       

        Meanwhile, Indonesia's most prominent international law expert, Prof. Hasyim Djalal, said Indonesia has authority over its Exclusive Economic Zone, so it is wrong for another country to claim it as a traditional fishing ground.

         "The Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (IEEZ) is in line with international laws. Within the IEEZ, there is no traditional fishing ground of China," Hasyim said.

          Also, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, there is no term, such as a "traditional fishing ground," but there is a "traditional fishing right," he stated.

          "Traditional fishing rights" should be formulated with the concerned country that owns the economic zone and, consequently, has sovereignty over resources there, the senior diplomat said.

         Meanwhile, international law professor of the University of Indonesia, Melda Kamil Ariadno,  said the country's border areas are wide open and could easily be trespassed upon by foreign fishing vessels.

          Melda added that law enforcement in the border areas is weak and not well coordinated.

           There are wide areas that are difficult to control, therefore, it is natural for the government to have formed a task force of anti IUUF (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing), Melda said.

          Further, Melda expressed her appreciation for the tough measures taken by the government in law enforcement against IUUF.

          Earlier, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the Chinese claim of having a traditional fishing ground in the Indonesian ZEE off Natuna was groundless.

          Another Indonesian international law expert said China's claim over a traditional fishing ground is based on a unilaterally declared nine-dash-line, which amounts to denying Indonesia's EEZ.

         "The concept of Indonesia's EEZ is based on international law and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). On the contrary, the traditional fishing ground and nine-dash line are not recognized in international law and UNCLOS," Prof Hikmahanto Juwana of the University of Indonesia (UI) said in a statement.

     
 He added that President Joko Widodo's decision to hold a limited meeting with a number of ministers in Natuna Islands represented the Indonesian government's firm stand on the Chinese government's claim.

         "The message he wishes to convey is that the Chinese government should not play with fire with Indonesia in the Natuna area," Hikmahanto said.

         The president has taken the correct steps in instructing Minister Susi Pujiastuti and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said on the EEZ and the continental shelf, Hikmahanto added.

         The instruction is aimed at encouraging local fishermen and business agents to exploit natural resources in the maritime zone, he said.

         The Indonesian navy had seized the Chinese fishing boat Han Tan Cou 19038 in the Natuna waters on June 17 and arrested its seven crew members.

          At a press conference, the commander of the navy's Western Fleet Command, Rear Admiral Achmad Taufiqoerrohman, had explained that the navy had fired warning shots in the air before it seized one of 12 boats found fishing illegally in the waters. The remaining 11 had managed to flee.

         Following the seizure of its boat, China has lodged an official protest, claiming the boat was fishing in its traditional fishing ground area. ***2***
(f001/INE)


(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 02-07-2016 13:56:59