The Straits Times, March 24, 2007
By Azhar Ghani, Indonesia Bureau Chief
By Azhar Ghani, Indonesia Bureau Chief
JAKARTA - SINGAPORE'S land reclamation continues to generate much heat in Jakarta, both in media and political circles.
Over the past few weeks, the Indonesian government has been criticised for its perceived weak stance by many legislators, including Parliamentary Speaker Agung Laksono, who called for Jakarta to expel Singapore's envoy.
Media commentators - including in prominent mass-market papers in Bahasa Indonesia - have also run commentaries on the country's ban on sand exports and the implications of Singapore's reclamation work.
This has sparked a debate - not always well informed or rational - on these issues.
It prompted an intervention by Indonesia's military chief, Marshal Djoko Suyanto, who said at a seminar on military matters on Wednesday: 'Land reclamation is an internal matter for Singapore.
'Our interest is in enforcing the law in our own territories.'
The military has a duty to prevent the smuggling of goods - including sand - by sea as well as to uphold Indonesia's environmental regulations, he added.
'We are certainly not being lax,' he added.
'The navy will stop vessels involved in crimes like smuggling or damaging the environment.'
Several Singapore-bound barges bearing granite have been detained by the Indonesian navy recently and are still being held.
Navy officials have reportedly said that contraband sand was hidden in the granite shipments.
Jakarta banned sand exports from Feb 6, citing environmental concerns and the need to protect Indonesia's maritime boundaries.
Marshal Djoko also refuted charges that Jakarta has not been tough enough on concerns that Singapore's land reclamation could affect the border between the two countries.
He reiterated his previous remarks that the reclamation works would not affect the border, adding that Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda had himself said so.
Singapore has also asserted as much, with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying recently: 'Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo has made clear Singapore's position when he spoke in Parliament on Feb 12, 2007. Our land reclamation works are conducted within Singapore's territorial waters.
'We have always stated that they would not be a factor in ongoing maritime boundary negotiations with Indonesia.'
Marshal Djoko also told reporters that there had been no illegal incursions by Singapore's military planes into Indonesia.
Allegations of such intrusions were heard during a recent Indonesian parliamentary hearing on issues related to the sand export ban, when some legislators claimed they had witnessed the transgressions during field trips to familiarise themselves with the situation.
Said Marshal Djoko: 'The reality is that the planes were flying in their designated training area.
'This area was agreed on by both countries in 1986.'
The local media continues to carry articles that debate the effects of Singapore's reclamation activities on Indonesia.
One article, part of a series on sand and granite mining published in the Kompas daily last Sunday, questioned if sand mining had led to the 'disappearance' of certain Indonesian islands and whether this 'could shift the maritime border' with Singapore.
It concluded otherwise, however, noting that the maritime borders were governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Another article in the same series noted that the ban on export of sea sand ought to have been coupled with a stop to the mining activity altogether in order to put an end to 'opportunities' for smuggling and damage to the environment.
It also said regency or city governments had the 'most' authority to stop sand mining but 'dare not' act because 'various interests are involved, such as the source of the income for the region and unofficial income for certain party'.
Over the past few weeks, the Indonesian government has been criticised for its perceived weak stance by many legislators, including Parliamentary Speaker Agung Laksono, who called for Jakarta to expel Singapore's envoy.
Media commentators - including in prominent mass-market papers in Bahasa Indonesia - have also run commentaries on the country's ban on sand exports and the implications of Singapore's reclamation work.
This has sparked a debate - not always well informed or rational - on these issues.
It prompted an intervention by Indonesia's military chief, Marshal Djoko Suyanto, who said at a seminar on military matters on Wednesday: 'Land reclamation is an internal matter for Singapore.
'Our interest is in enforcing the law in our own territories.'
The military has a duty to prevent the smuggling of goods - including sand - by sea as well as to uphold Indonesia's environmental regulations, he added.
'We are certainly not being lax,' he added.
'The navy will stop vessels involved in crimes like smuggling or damaging the environment.'
Several Singapore-bound barges bearing granite have been detained by the Indonesian navy recently and are still being held.
Navy officials have reportedly said that contraband sand was hidden in the granite shipments.
Jakarta banned sand exports from Feb 6, citing environmental concerns and the need to protect Indonesia's maritime boundaries.
Marshal Djoko also refuted charges that Jakarta has not been tough enough on concerns that Singapore's land reclamation could affect the border between the two countries.
He reiterated his previous remarks that the reclamation works would not affect the border, adding that Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda had himself said so.
Singapore has also asserted as much, with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying recently: 'Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo has made clear Singapore's position when he spoke in Parliament on Feb 12, 2007. Our land reclamation works are conducted within Singapore's territorial waters.
'We have always stated that they would not be a factor in ongoing maritime boundary negotiations with Indonesia.'
Marshal Djoko also told reporters that there had been no illegal incursions by Singapore's military planes into Indonesia.
Allegations of such intrusions were heard during a recent Indonesian parliamentary hearing on issues related to the sand export ban, when some legislators claimed they had witnessed the transgressions during field trips to familiarise themselves with the situation.
Said Marshal Djoko: 'The reality is that the planes were flying in their designated training area.
'This area was agreed on by both countries in 1986.'
The local media continues to carry articles that debate the effects of Singapore's reclamation activities on Indonesia.
One article, part of a series on sand and granite mining published in the Kompas daily last Sunday, questioned if sand mining had led to the 'disappearance' of certain Indonesian islands and whether this 'could shift the maritime border' with Singapore.
It concluded otherwise, however, noting that the maritime borders were governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Another article in the same series noted that the ban on export of sea sand ought to have been coupled with a stop to the mining activity altogether in order to put an end to 'opportunities' for smuggling and damage to the environment.
It also said regency or city governments had the 'most' authority to stop sand mining but 'dare not' act because 'various interests are involved, such as the source of the income for the region and unofficial income for certain party'.
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