The government has pledged to accelerate the establishment of Indonesia as a global maritime axis.
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Kompas/Abdullah Fikri Ashri
The Indonesian Navy performs sea security exercises on Wednesday (13/12) during the commemoration of Nusantara Day in Cirebon, West Java. Nusantara Day marks the anniversary of the Djuanda Declaration on Dec. 13, 1957, which was an important milestone in establishing the sovereignty of areas within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
CIREBON, KOMPAS – The government has pledged to accelerate the establishment of Indonesia as a global maritime axis. Apart from defending Indonesia’s maritime sovereignty, the sea toll program for improving inter-island connectivity will be pushed ahead to ensure the people’s welfare.
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo made the statement on Wednesday (13/12) during the 2017 Nusantara Day commemoration at the West Java port city of Cirebon. Attending the event were Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Ade Supandi, West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, Cirebon Mayor Nasrudin Azis and a number of regional heads.
Nusantara Day marks the anniversary of the Djuanda Declaration, a milestone in Indonesian independence that took place on Dec. 13, 1957. This year’s event featured artistic performances from Cirebon’s coastal communities, Naval evacuation and sea battle exhibitions and a skydiving attraction.
Tjahjo said that President Joko Widodo’s vision was for Indonesia “not to stand with its back to the sea”, but to make the sea its main stage instead. Efforts to ensure Indonesia’s role as a global maritime axis have been ongoing over the past three years.
“We wish to speed things up, including building infrastructure like the sea toll. Around 90 percent of small and large ports are also being improved,” Tjahjo said.
According to Tjahjo, the government believed that the sea toll program and port infrastructure developments would facilitate the inter-island transportation of people and goods. The Transportation Ministry is also building flagships to reach remote islands. “The sea is not a divider. It unites us all,” he said.
The government also intends to build three Armed Forces bases, in Natuna in the Riau Islands, in Selaru in Maluku and in Bitung in North Sulawesi. These areas all border other countries. “Currently we have 151 war ships, fully armed. In the next two years, we plan to have a total of 180 to 200 ships. In 2018, the Navy will have four submarines,” Tjahjo said.
However, Tjahjo also highlighted the various problems that had to be resolved in developing the maritime economy, including poor funding access for fishing communities and damaged coastal areas. He has called upon all regional heads to support the global maritime axis program.
Ade Supandi said that the realization of Indonesia’s dream as a global maritime axis would ultimately lead to improved welfare for the people. Apart from harsh punishments for illegal fishing, fishing communities were also being empowered.
In Ambon, Maluku Deputy Governor Zeth Sahuburua voiced his criticism that the government had yet to fully commit to adopting a maritime worldview in infrastructure development. The government’s development approach was rife with continentalism and Java-centrism, and that a holistic approach was lacking in developing the archipelago.
This can be seen in the central government’s budgetary allocation for regional development, which is based only on land area and population. The allocations are also calculated using prices found in Java.
In Maluku, a majority of the poor reside in coastal areas or on isolated islands. The poverty rate in Maluku is 18 percent of its 1.8 million population. “Special treatment is necessary for archipelagic regions to ensure justice and equality. We need to see the archipelago as a whole,” Zeth said.
