By: Nawal Asri) *
President Jokowi’s presence in Natuna has become an anti-climax of the polemic over alleged violations of the sovereignty of Chinese ships. In addition to successfully driving out Chinese ships, the presence of President Jokowi shows the Government’s strong commitment to resolve water problems in Natuna.
The presence of Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Natuna is evidence of a signal of the government’s seriousness amid the tension between RI and the Government of China. This was revealed by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.
He believes, Jokowi’s step will get support from the people of Indonesia in facing a polemic with China that violates the Exclusive Economic Zone.
The waters in Natuna are indeed very rich in fish. Moreover, certain types of fish are only found in these waters.
Head of the Marine Security Agency (Bakamla) Vice Admiral Achmad Taufiqoerrochman said, yesterday China also had earlier sent two coast guard vessels to northern Natuna waters.
Before that, three coast guard ships from China had also been in North Natuna waters. But it is not yet known whether the two ships sent are intended to replace the two existing ships first or in fact a form of additional strength.
To secure the territorial waters in Natuna, the TNI has also sent 4 F-16 aircraft to the territorial waters in the Riau Islands. The four planes were sent to patrol.
After Jokowi’s visit to Natuna, Head of the TNI Headquarters Information Center, Major General Sisriadi, ensured that Chinese-flagged fishing vessels along with their coast guard ships had left the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the waters of North Natuna. The Chinese ships came out after President Joko Widodo along with TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto visited Natuna.
Sisriadi also stated that Jokowi’s visit to Natuna had given a firm message to the Chinese government in Beijing regarding conflicts in Natuna waters.
He said Jokowi’s visit was meticulously welcomed by the Chinese government. Sisriadi revealed that the Chinese government had given instructions to all fishing vessels and their coast guard ships from the territorial waters in North Natuna.
Meanwhile, the TNI also played a role in assisting diplomatic tasks undertaken by the government against China. One of them is TNI personnel who often carry out evictions of Chinese-flagged fishing boats to get out of Indonesia’s EEZ in Natuna waters.
After the security situation at sea is well maintained. The TNI will again focus on security in all Indonesian waters.
This shows that the thickening of the troops in the Natuna Sea had a positive impact on the security and sovereignty of Natuna waters. In addition, the Government will also send hundreds of fishermen to sea in Natuna to show that Natuna waters are still in the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Earlier, Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament Puan Maharani had also requested that the Indonesian government act decisively and urgently for all when the fishermen from China left the Natuna Waters of the Riau Islands.
Puan also stressed that there was no reason for the Indonesian government to allow the waters in Natuna to be claimed by other countries. He said Natuna waters are Indonesia’s sovereign territory that must be defended according to the zoning of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Natuna based on the 1982 international agreement (UNCLOS).
Furthermore, Puan also asked the Chinese government to respect international law as stipulated in the 1982 UNCLOS, of which China was a member.
On a different occasion, President Jokowi also took the time to hand over land rights certificates to the community in Natuna Regency, Riau Islands Province.
In his remarks, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta reiterated that Natuna was an inseparable part of the Republic of Indonesia.
The awarding of the certificate was intended so that the people in Natuna knew that Natuna was part of the Indonesian homeland. So that proof of legal rights to land, to land, in the form of a certificate is given to the community in Natuna Regency.
Natuna Islands is part of the Natuna Regency which is included in the administrative territory of the Riau Islands Province. Natuna Regency itself has a population of approximately 81 thousand and government apparatus.
What was done by Jokowi, certainly shows that the State is present in the problems that exist in Natuna. The state also shows its concern for the people in Natuna so that the practice of illegal fishing can be resolved.
) * The writer is an observer of social and politic