Jokowi, in Rare Tirade, Threatens to Fire Officials Over Cargo Delays at Tanjung Priok

Jakarta Globe, Jun 17, 2015

President Joko Widodo telling officials and reporters what’s what, during a visit to
 Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok Port on Wednesday. The president threatened to fire
 officials responsible for the notorious delays in moving cargo through the port.
(Antara Photo/Widodo S. Jusuf)

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo gave an uncharacteristic outburst during an inspection of Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok Port on Wednesday, threatening to fire officials responsible for the lengthy delays in moving containers through the port.

“The process takes too long because the people handling it don’t want to move fast,” he told an entourage of officials and reporters.

He noted that Tanjung Priok’s dwell time, or the amount of time a container spends at the port before moving on, was an average of 5.5 days – the longest in Asia, he said. He also said some items took up to a month to clear customs and excise.

Joko added he was well aware of the legendary delays at the port, which handles two-thirds of Indonesia’s international trade, from his experience running a furniture export business, and threatened to fire any officials responsible for the problem.

“Let it be known that if things get [even more] difficult, I can fire the director general, the people on the ground, even the minister. If that’s how you work that’s [what will happen],” he said.

He did not specify which director general or minister he was referring to. The director general of customs and excise is Agung Kuswandono, whose office falls under the purview of the Finance Ministry, headed by Bambang Brodjonegoro. The trade and transportation ministries, which also have a hand in operations at the port, are headed respectively by Rachmat Gobel and Jonan Ignasius.

Joko said it was apparent that no one involved in the process – from loading and unloading containers to clearing them through customs – understood their duties or responsibilities, and chastised the officials around him for glossing over the problems.

“Don’t say everything’s fine. The reality is that [Indonesia] is lagging far behind. So who? Customs or trade? Who should I be speaking to?” he said, repeating the question seven more times.

There was no response from any of the officials.

“Which agency takes the longest time [processing] exports and imports?” the president went on. “There’s gotta be one. So I’m asking again, which one? Fess up, and we’ll fix it.”

Again there was no response.

Joko said the average dwell time at Tanjung Priok should be brought down to 4.7 days if Indonesia was to be competitive with Singapore and Malaysia.

“I want this port to be faster, more efficient, to give the best import and export services, because our business is the service business,” he said.

Joko Praises Minister Susi’s Work on Combating Illegal Fishing

Jakarta Globe, Novy Lumanauw, Apr 07, 2015

A fisherman formerly held in slave-like conditions by a Thai-owned fishing firm in
Benjina, Maluku, shows evidence of abuse. (Antara Foto/Humas Kementerian
Kelautan)

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo on Tuesday expressed support for Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti and called on her to continue tackling illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.

Joko was speaking in response to a year-long Associated Press investigation that revealed the use of slave labor by at least one company operating in Benjina in Maluku’s Aru Islands district. A Thai-owned fishing company based in Benjina was recently discovered to have confined and exploited fishermen, mostly from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, in slavery conditions.

“This is an international issue and I want thorough reporting on it,” Joko said.

Susi said she was disturbed to learn that Pusaka Benjina Resources had been keeping at least 327 slaves in captivity, working under the threat of torture or even death. The ministry has since shut down the company.

The revelation has prompted the ministry to pledge closer monitoring of fishing companies operating throughout Indonesia.

Susi said her office quickly inspected other companies operating in Benjina and found a further 1,185 fishermen living in similar conditions.

The minister said there was evidence other firms in the area were using slave labor — and had been doing so for years.

The director general for monitoring of maritime resources, Asep Burhanuddin, said the ministry had formed a task force with local prosecutors, immigration officials, the Navy and the National Police.

On Friday, days after the story broke, the task force was deployed to Benjina. The workers, some of whom had been enslaved for nine years, were taken to Tual, an island around 100 kilometers west of Aru, from where they were repatriated.

Company officials have been charged with human trafficking and violating the Manpower Law.

Meanwhile, Joko also asked the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to monitor the flow of funds to illegal fishing vessels to aid Susi in her crackdown.

“She’s done good work and the ministry needs to keep it up,” Joko said in a discussion about illegal fishing. “All ministries and the PPATK need to continue working together so we can find out everything about illegal fishing,” he added.

“The Maritime and Fisheries Ministry needs this knowledge so that it can act accordingly and based on the facts.”

Related Article:

Scores of Seafood Slaves in Indonesia, Officials Turned Blind Eye: Report

Indonesia Sends Aid to Cyclone-Hit Vanuatu

Jakarta Globe, Apr 05, 2015

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, center, sends off the Indonesian aid
delegation to cyclone-hit Vanuatu. (Antara Foto/Rivan Awal Lingga)

Jakarta. The Indonesian government has sent $2 million worth of aid to Vanuatu, which was smashed by a devastating cyclone last month that left 11 people dead and thousands homeless.

A Garuda Indonesia Airbus 330 and Cardig Boeing 737 left with the relief packages from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday.

“The aid will be a symbol of Indonesian commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Vanuatu in terms of disaster mitigation,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The aid consists of $450,000 in cash, as well as 6,000 packages of nutrition supplements and food, 6,000 packages of ready-to-eat food and 2,000 packages of biscuits.

The shipment also contained 149 carts of baby food, 333 carts of pregnancy food, 500 packages of children’s clothing, 7,500 blankets, 26 carts of solar cells and 200 family tents.

Cyclone Pam affected more than two thirds of the South Pacific island nation, wiping out crops and destroying fishing fleets.

Vanauata’s government is now coordinating an international relief effort.

Related Article:

Extent of damage by Vanuatu storm 'worst' says President

Minister Susi Launches Fishing Moratorium Plan

Jakarta Globe, Nuriy Azizah Susetyo, Dec 04, 2014

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti speaking to reporters
on Wednesday. (Antara Photo/Wahyu Putro A.)

Jakarta. In a bid to preserve the nation’s marine ecosystem and resources, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti wants to impose a moratorium on fishing in large swathes of Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Speaking at a Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club event held at the Intercontinental Hotel on Thursday, Susi proposed that fishing be limited to a zone of 12 nautical miles to 20 nautical miles from the coast, and that there should not be any such activities beyond the 40 nautical mile point.

Generally speaking, the EEZ extends to a distance of 200 nautical miles, or 370 kilometers, from the coast.

The minister said Indonesia should use the marine resources located in the 12 nautical miles to 20 nautical miles zone, with detailed regulations on fishing quotas, the permitted size and type of catch and tools to be used, still to follow.

Susi added that she had already submitted a proposal to President Joko Widodo to issue a presidential decree that would serve as legal basis for the moratorium.

Meanwhile, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Tedjo Edy Purdjianto, said on Thursday that the government was going to scuttle three Vietnamese ships that were confiscated after they were found to be involved in illegal fishing in Indonesian waters, in Riau Islands province.

“The message is: don’t even think about fishing in Indonesian waters illegally,” Tedjo said after meeting Joko, adding that the sinking was ordered by the president himself.

Pertamina Launches Subsidized Fuel Card for Fishermen

Jakarta Globe, Rangga Prakoso, Nov 25, 2014

The subsidized fuel scheme has been tried out in Cilincing, North Jakarta,
since June. (Antara Photo/Saiful Bahri)

Jakarta. State-owned energy company Pertamina on Tuesday officially launched a subsidized fuel scheme especially for fishermen in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

Pertamina marketing and business director Hanung Budya said the program, which uses cards similar to those being issued for better access to education and health services, is intended to make sure the subsidized fuel ends up in the hands of the right people.

“Each boat only gets one card, with a particular quota of subsidized fuel set by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry,” Hanung said on Tuesday at a Cilincing fuel station for fishing vessels.

The program has been tried out since June in Cilincing. The filling station caters to 158 registered boats, and each is allocated around 288 kiloliter of subsidized diesel per month. With the card, each transaction is digitally monitored by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the local marine and fisheries agency, Pertamina and Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI).

“To get the card, fishermen need to open a bank account [at BRI] and register the card with the local fisheries agency to obtain a fuel quota. Each card will mention the boat’s name, the owner’s name, and the monthly quota,” Hanung said. “The government can also use the card to monitor fishing activities and use it for further studies into fuel quotas.”

After Cilincing, Pertamina is planning to implement the system in other areas as well.

“Before the end of the year, we’d like to bring this card to Tegal, Central Java, and Lamongan in East Java. We’re targeting to register around 2,400 boats for this program,” Hanung said.

In Fight Against Big-Time Poaching, Susi Nets Minnows

Jakarta Globe, Nuriy Azizah Susetyo, Nov 22, 2014

Bajau Laut child in the Philippines. (Wikimedia Commons Photo/Ronnie Pucket)

Jakarta. Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti’s crusade against poaching by foreign fishing boats in Indonesian waters has turned on a nomadic sea tribe that has practiced subsistence fishing for hundreds of years.

The minister said in Jakarta on Friday that her ministry had identified 400 fishermen from the Bajau Laut community living and fishing among remote islands off East Kalimantan – an area that they have lived in and fished from for generations.

However, Susi said that they included Bajau Laut tribespeople from the Philippines and Malaysia, and that their presence in Indonesian waters – where, again, they have a history that predates the founding of all three countries – posed an existential threat to Indonesia’s maritime sovereignty.

“Under our marine laws, they are definitely violating our territory, and if seen under the fisheries law, they are guilty because they are foreigners,” Susi said.

She added that they lived mostly on uninhabited islands off Berau district in East Kalimantan, a marine conservation area where she claimed fishing was prohibited. However, she also acknowledged that authorities were tipped off to their presence by complaints about the “foreign” competition from local fishermen who also fish in the ostensibly protected area.

Conservationists have long lamented the practice of dynamite fishing by local fishermen in the area, but Susi said no such materials were found among the Bajau Laut.

“We caught 59 boats and 73 rafts, so in total we got 132 wooden boats. However, we only found spears and nets, not potassium and dynamite,” she said.

The coordinating minister for maritime affairs, Indroyono Soesilo, said Indonesia needed to take the case seriously because of the danger that it could lose the islands in question to Malaysia or the Philippines – despite the Bajau Laut generally not subscribing to the notion of statehood.

He added that the government would inform the Malaysian and Philippine governments about the matter and deport the fishermen from the region they have lived in for generations.

For Maritime Minister Susi, Work Starts Now

Jakarta Globe, Kennial Caroline Laia, Oct 28, 2014

Marine and Fishery Affairs Minister Susi
Pudjiastuti. (Antara Photo/Prasetyo Utomo)

Jakarta. Indonesia’s new Marine and Fishery Affairs Minister Susi Pudjiastuti announced she plans to issue both short- and long-term programs that will improve the welfare of the nation’s fishermen.

The ministry’s first move, she added, is to identify both current and potential problems plaguing Indonesia’s maritime sector, before mapping out targets for the next five years.

“I am neither an expert or an academic [on the matter]; I just want to work fast and show good results,” Susi told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

“For a long-term program, I will focus on mapping issues related to illegal fishing, aquaculture and marketing. I will also look into matters surrounding tariff barriers and our maritime products,” Susi was quoted as saying by Kompas.com.

These campaigns have the shared aim of working towards the benefit of Indonesia’s fishermen, she explained, adding that results would not be instantaneous as she still needs to coordinate with directorate generals and division heads of her ministry and compile the necessary data.

The short-term programs, meanwhile, will strive to change the mindset of both companies and individuals involved in the country’s marine industry.

“There are several small steps that we can [immediately] take. Again, we want to focus on helping our coastal fishermen,” Susi said. “But want to teach them to become more business minded.”

Susi conceded the success of these programs would partly depend on the government’s efforts to improve and expand on the nation’s infrastructure, including airports, as transportation is key to the distribution of Indonesia’s fisheries products.

President Joko Widodo surprised the nation on Sunday when he placed the businesswoman at the helm of the ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries — an area, critics claim, she knows very little about.

The 49-year-old has made no efforts to deny or disguise her status as a high-school dropout. She established her own fish vendor in Pangandaran, West Java, at the tender age of 18, unknowingly creating a small business that would flourish into ASI Pudjiastuti Marine Products.

Susi expanded into the aviation business in 2004 with ASI Pudjiastuti Aviation and Susi Air, the latter of which has managed to settle into a niche market by flying to remote regions that are not serviced by larger commercial airlines.

Jokowi Touts Maritime Axis in Inauguration Address

Jakarta Globe, Oct 20, 2014

President Joko Widodo takes the oath of
office on Monday.  (EPA Photo/Adi Weda)

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo used his inaugural address on Monday to reiterate his central program of turning Indonesia into a global maritime axis.

“The seas, the oceans and the bays are our future, and we have been neglected our seas, oceans and bays,” he told legislators and visiting world leaders at the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) building in Jakarta.

“This is the time to return to Jalesveva Jayamahe,” he added, citing the motto of Indonesian Navy, which is the Sanskrit for “In the sea we will triumph.”

Joko, speaking after taing the oath of office as Indonesia’s seventh president, said it was important for Indonesia, once a collection of disparate kingdoms renowned for their maritime prowess, to build on its immense wealth of maritime resources.

“To build Indonesia into a great, prosperous and peaceful country we must posses the soul of Cakrawati Samudra,” he said, again turning to Sanskrit to refer to a maritime nation with a strong merchant navy.

“As the captain of the ship, I invite all Indonesians on board to move toward a prosperous nation,” he added. “To all fishermen, laborers, farmers, meatball sellers, drivers, all the professionals — I call on you to work hand in hand because this is the historical moment for us to work, work and work.”

As part of his focus on maritime issues, Joko is expected to announce a new cabinet post of coordinating minister for maritime, natural resources and environmental affairs when he reveals his cabinet lineup tomorrow.

An Urgent Call for Reform in Indonesian Boat Safety

Deadly Waters: Despite the alarming number of fatalities from accidents at sea, no steps are being made to prevent further deaths

Jakarta Globe, Kennial Caroline Laia, Aug 03, 2014

Relatives go through a list of casualties from a boat accident in Panai Hilir, North
 Sumatra, one in a alarming string of similar incidents during the Idul Fitri week.
(EPA Photo/Adil Situmorang)

Jakarta. Urgent reform in the Indonesian maritime transportation system is needed after a recent string of fatal boat accidents, analysts say, adding that the incoming Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla government should make the issue a priority.

“Our sea transportation system needs an immediate fix. If the government continues to neglect it, boat accidents in our waters will happen again and again,” Suyono Dikun, transportation expert with the University of Indonesia, told the Jakarta Globe.

At least 50 people have died and dozens remain missing in four boat accidents that occurred in the past week across the archipelago. Officials have admitted that aside from rough waters, most of the incidents were caused by overcapacity.

A boat carrying at least 51 people sank in waters between South Sulawesi and Selayar Islands on Wednesday.

Seventeen people are now known to have died in the accident, which marks the end of a tragic week in the country’s maritime transportation system.

On July 28, the first day of this year’s Idul Fitri, two people died and two remain missing after a ferry sank in the Nabire district of Papua.

The following day, a ferry carrying some 70 travelers across a Kalimantan river sank, with the final death toll put at 18.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), told state-run Antara news agency on Wednesday that the boat had been carrying more than double its maximum capacity.

On Wednesday, a fishing boat sank in Berombang river, located in the Labuhan Batu district of North Sumatra, claiming 13 lives — 10 of whom were children.

Last week at least three people died after an overloaded boat ferrying Indonesians home for the coming Idul Fitri holiday sank off southern Malaysia.

Three bodies were recovered, 10 people were rescued and eight more remained missing in the incident. The boat — carrying 21 Indonesian undocumented migrant workers — capsized and sank in rough seas off Malaysia’s Johor state, said Iskandar Ishak, the local head of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, as quoted by AFP. Officials added that the boat had a capacity of just eight passengers.

Suyono blamed the government for the alarming number of disasters across Indonesian seas that could have been prevented, saying that state policies on safety in water transportation and their enforcement were far from sufficient to protect passengers.

Additionally, boat operators seem to lack concern over their customers’ safety, loading as many passengers as possible for profit, regardless of the vessel’s capacity.

“The government did not place transportation safety as a priority in its policy. Meanwhile, most Indonesian boat crews take safety precautions very lightly. For them, safety is a trivial factor in their business,” Suyono said. “Despite the accidents and resulting casualties, boat companies, their crew and the government have not done anything to improve the situation.”

He also pointed out that the Indonesian government has never allocated a special budget to improve the safety equipment on board boats and trains, nor are their employees trained on crucial, life-saving safety procedures.

“As far as money is concerned, I have never heard of the government distributing funds for any sort of safety features on boats,” Suyono said.

Danang Parikesit, former chairman of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), said that sea transportation was more prone to accidents than other modes of travel, due largely to a lack of supervision from the government.

“State management and supervision is close to nonexistent. In the context of the country’s transportation system, safety equipment is not a priority, nor is the routine inspection of these equipment,” he said. “In addition, our evacuation procedures — which include the handling of victims — are far from meeting international standards. That is the main factor for the high number of casualties in boat accidents.

“This is beyond critical. MTI’s study in 2008 shows that compared to other countries in the world, our government has failed to pay attention toward the safety in the sea or river transportation,” he said.

Danang pointed out that the small amount of media coverage on boat accidents contributed to the public and the government’s low level of awareness concerning water transportation.

“The media rarely covers boat accidents. Most report only on large incidents, so many tragic occurrences actually go undetected by the public,” Danang said.

“The media should be more proactive in writing or reporting on stories related to water transportation in Indonesia in order to put more pressure on the government,” he added. “Even after all the horrific accidents that occurred these past two months, our officials are still not taking action.”

Meanwhile, Danang said, most boat operators continue operating despite having little to no understanding of the necessary safety features and procedures that may save passengers in case of an accident.

“Most of these companies don’t even equip their vessels with sufficient safety gear,” he said.

Despite the pressing need for improvement in safety standards and the skills of boat personnel, inaction, little concern and a lack of understanding continue to be a detrimental force between the two entities that have the power to change the increasingly alarming situation: the government and transportation operators.

“In the past five years, no significant steps have been made to prevent accidents at sea. No attention has been made to safety. There has been no improvement at all,” Danang said.

“I urge the new government to take the necessary steps in preventing further calamities at sea by not only tightening rules and regulations concerning water transportation, but also improving on the meager supply of safety equipment [on board vessels],” he added.

Both Suyono and Danang called on the incoming Joko-Kalla administration to prioritize sea transportation over other forms of travel, pointing to the fact that Indonesia is an archipelago.

“With thousands of islands separated by water, the transportation system in this sector should be placed at the government’s ‘to do’ list ,” said Danang.

Suyono hopes the president-elect will tackle the issue before more Indonesians fall victim to negligence at sea.

“The outgoing administration has failed in protecting its travelers. But this could be a lesson for the next government. They need to address the situation as soon as possible,” he said.

Fishermen Call on Government to Address Illegal Fishing

Jakarta Globe, Jun 15, 2014

Fishermen unload a catch on the shore of Banyuwangi, East Java. (AFP Photo)

Padang. An Indonesian Traditional Fishermen’s Union (KNTI) official on Saturday called on the government to improve efforts to secure Indonesian waters from illegal fishing by foreign boats.

The incursions cost the state trillions of Rupiah each year, the union said.

“According to KTNI data, fish theft happens in 18 places across Indonesian waters,” KNTI board of advisers head Riza Damanik said on Saturday, as quoted by state-run Antara news agency. “This practice clearly has negative implications for the country’s efforts to preserve its marine ecosystems and the sustainability of the fisheries as a food source.”

He said that that lack of monitoring left doors wide open for abuse.

“Cases of theft… cost an estimated Rp 30 trillion [$2.54 billion] worth of state losses,” he said.

He said the government should spread 1,000 local boats across broader swathes of the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEEI) to pevent foreign incursions.

He also urged the government to support Indonesian fishing infrastructure in expanding East.

“The fact is that 80 percent of fishing ports in Indonesia are still located in the western part of the country,” he said. “The fish processing industry is focused in Central Java, while actually there are plenty of resources in the eastern part of Indonesia.”

Conservationists Work With Fishermen to Save the Reefs

In Malang, coral repopulation is key, Dyah Ayu Pitaloka writes

Jakarta Globe, Dyah Ayu Pitaloka, November 10, 2013

Sahabat Alam has teamed up with local fishing communities to help repopulate
coral reefs. (JG Photo/Dyah Ayu Pitaloka)

A group of volunteers, some still in their teens, walked up to the shoreline of Kondang Merak beach in Malang district, East Java.

Slowly they rolled up their jeans as small waves pounded their feet. They were each carrying pieces of coral that had been carefully attached to prefabricated wire mesh bearing the volunteers’ names.

The volunteers “donated between Rp 10,000 and Rp 50,000 ($0.88 to $4.40) each for this coral reef repopulation effort. Though there are also those who cannot afford to donate money but are able to give their time and power to plant coral reefs,” Andi Syaifudin said.

Andi is the chairman of Sahabat Alam (Nature’s Friend), which focuses on coral reef, mangrove and sea-turtle conservation around Kondang Merak beach.

The 5-square-kilometer area, located 62 kilometers south of Malang city, was once famous for being one of the most beautiful snorkeling and diving spots off the southern coast of Java.

“We fell in love with Kondang Merak because of its beautiful coral reefs and pristine white sands,” he said.

But since early 2000 the use of fish bombs and cyanide by local fishermen has contributed to the destruction of 80 percent of the local coral population.

With the reefs destroyed, residents in the area have lost their livelihoods, not only from dwindling fish populations but also from the declining number of divers visiting Kondang Merak’s five diving spots.

“Around five to 10 years ago we were able to get 50 kilograms of lobster each time we sailed out to sea,” local fisherman Edi said, adding that he could earn between Rp 400,000 to Rp 750,000 per kilogram.

“Now we consider ourselves lucky to get just 5 kilograms [of lobster],” he said.

Sahabat Alam has been teaching local fishing communities about the importance of coral reefs and how using fish bombs and cyanide in fishing poses a huge threat to their livelihoods.

“Lobsters like to hide in coral reefs and now the reefs have been destroyed,” said Edi, who joined Sahabat Alam’s coral repopulation drive. “Slowly we are realizing that we need to catch lobsters using techniques that will not harm the coral, by diving or using nets.”

The Malang district’s Maritime and Fisheries office noted that there are nine areas in Malang with critically damaged coral reef systems, including Kondang Merak. In these areas, coral reefs will disappear unless something is done.

Coral reefs not only provide a vital food source for the fish but also stop erosion and tidal waves.

At 10 more sites in Malang, coral reefs are considered fairly damaged, which means the reefs will be able to repopulate without human intervention if the damaging activities stop.

Wahyu Hidayat, local head of the Marine and Fisheries Agency, said the government has the necessary funding to repopulate the coral reefs but needs help from groups like Sahabat Alam for human resources and expertise.

“Any community willing to do real work will get our support,” he said.

Zainul Arifin, a Sahabat Alam member, said it is important to engage the local fishing community in conservation efforts.

Coral grows between 2 to 3 centimeters a month and needs to spend at least six months in nursery grounds before it can be planted in open water and survive on its own. During that period, they need constant care to keep sand and mold from getting into their pores and inhibiting their growth. That, Zainal said, is where the fishermen come in.

“A huge percentage of our donors’ money goes to the fishermen for this monitoring process. Without the involvement of the local fishing community it will be all for nothing,” he said.

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President welcomes Greenpeace activists

The Jakarta Post, Ina Parlina, June 08 2013

Welcome on board!: Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo (left)
 shows President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) the legendary Rainbow Warrior
ship at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta on Friday. (Antara/Prasetyo Utomo)

For years, Greenpeace has been viewed with suspicion by Indonesian officials and some local hard-line groups who accused the international environmental group of being a “foreign agent” trying to wreak havoc in the country.

But on Friday, it was President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono himself who came to meet and greet Greenpeace activists aboard their iconic sailing vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, which was moored at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta.

The President called Greenpeace a “partner” in the country’s efforts to protect the environment.

“[Please do] criticize Indonesia over the things the country has to improve, and advise us how to maintain the environment. If Indonesia does good things, do not forget to tell the world that Indonesia has a strong commitment to protecting the environment,” Yudhoyono said, adding that he had asked Greenpeace to remain a partner of Indonesia.

Greenpeace, which has always been critical of the government, was more supportive of Yudhoyono during the meeting.

Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo said he hoped that Yudhoyono’s presence on board would be a symbol of environmental protection leading to greater protection for Indonesia’s incredible natural heritage.

“The President should be congratulated on the progress his government has made on forest protection since our first meeting last year,” Naidoo said. “There is still crucial work to be done but we at Greenpeace can assure him that we will do whatever we can to support Indonesia’s commitment to zero deforestation.”

While the meeting could boost Yudhoyono’s standing as a champion of green policies, it may also help Greenpeace’s operations in the country, which have been marred by several incidents.

 In 2011, Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven was denied entry into Indonesia at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, even though Sauven held an official visa issued by the Indonesian Embassy in London. A few days later, immigration officials tried to deport British Greenpeace campaigner Andrew Ross Tait.

In the same year, the Jakarta administration threatened to seal the organization’s office in Kemang, South Jakarta, for allegedly violating building regulations. In mid-2012, after months of intimidation from a hard-line group as well as opposition from residents living nearby, Greenpeace finally abandoned its headquarters in Kemang and moved to Tebet, South Jakarta. The protesters accused Greenpeace Indonesia of breaching regulations by accepting donations from gambling operations.

In a meeting with Naidoo in Jakarta on June 7 last year, Yudhoyono accepted Naidoo’s invitation to visit the ship; a far cry from 2010, when the Rainbow Warrior was escorted out of Indonesian waters after the government refused to let the ship dock in Jakarta. Yudhoyono said at that time that Greenpeace was a credible organization that played a major role in seeking environmental solutions through its criticisms and effort, pointing out that both of them “shared a similar dream”.

The crew of Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior sang

a song at a welcoming ceremony in Bali as part of its

tour. It stops in Jakarta on Monday at Tanjung Priok Port.

(JG Photo/Nadia Bintoro)

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Indonesia Celebrates Coral Triangle Day With Conservation Events

Jakarta Globe, June 7, 2013

Coves and islets in Raja Ampat. (AFP Photo)

The Indonesian government hopes to raise awareness about the importance of marine resources this month by hosting a number of events in celebration of Coral Triangle Day on Sunday.

The Marine and Fishery Ministry, in a press release obtained in Jakarta on Friday, said that the celebrations were part of more than 50 international events to mark the day.

The Coral Triangle is believed to be home to 76 percent of the world’s coral and 37 percent of world’s fish. The area, comprised of six countries, provides the livelihood for more than 120 million people.

Indonesia, along with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, are members of the Coral Triangle Initiative on coral reefs, fisheries and food security.

The first event, a coral rehabilitation, featured the release of sea turtles and the planting of 5,000 mangrove seedlings in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, on Friday.

On Saturday, Bali will host a month-long photography exhibition on the coral triangle and the world’s oceans, jointly organized by the Coral Triangle Center, Body Shop Indonesia and the Marine Foundation.

Later that evening, Lombok’s Bintaro beach, located in Ampenan, will screen a film on corals and present a puppet show to raise awareness on the need to mitigate climate change and the destruction of coastal areas.

Marine and Fishery Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo and the head of the interim regional secretariat of the Coral Triangle Initiative will lead a beach cleanup in Lombok’s Bintaro and Loang Balok between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Also on Sunday, the Coral Triangle Center will hold an open house for children between nine and 15 years old in Sanur, Bali, to teach them about maritime environments through participatory games.

Indonesia Steps Up Its Diplomacy for Coral Triangle and 'Blue Economies'

Jakarta Globe, July 14, 2012

This 2011underwater handout photograph released by US-based charity
 The Nature Conservancy shows the effects of bleaching in Indonesia's Wakatobi
 archipelago, a thriving marine paradise that supports 100,000 people and
 contributes millions of dollars to Indonesia's economy. in 2011, coral bleaching
caused by higher sea temperatures wreaked havoc across the Coral Triangle,
a region of rich tropical reefs spanning much of Southeast Asia and almost all of
Indonesia. Up to 70 percent of the coral in Wakatobi, off the southeastern tip of
Sulawesi island, was totally or partially bleached. (AFP Photo/ROD SALM) 

      

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Pekanbaru, Riau. Indonesia called on the international community to give serious attention in saving coral reefs and fishery resources in the “Coral Triangle,” a minister said. 

“Saving the Coral Triangle region is important because it is so rich in marine biodiversity,” said Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Sharif C. Sutardjo in an e-mail on Friday.

The Coral Triangle refers to the shared tropical marine waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and East Timor. The area is said to contain 30 percent of the world’s reefs and more than 3,000 species of fish. More than 130 million people living in the region rely on reef ecosystems for food, employment, and revenue from tourism, according to studies.

At the Rio +20 forum in June, Sharif said Indonesia was committed to the success of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF), a 2007 partnership of six countries that addressed what they called “urgent threats facing the coastal and marine resources of one of the most biologically diverse and ecologically rich regions on earth.”

Sharif also lauded the importance of a “blue economy,” in the marine and aquatic sector.

“The Blue economy concept also emphasizes a balance between economic development and environmental carrying capacity, so as to positively affect the people welfare,” Sharif said.

A healthy marine ecosystem can support the livelihood of the community, as well as support sustainable economic development, Sharif argued. He added that the goal of a blue economy is to encourage a more balanced economic development between resource utilization and environmental protection efforts.

“In fact, it would be a lot of growing economic activity in the marine and fishery sectors,” Sharif noted, saying the policy would also strike new balances between land and marine based development.

The Rio+20 agreed with the possible dual benefits of environmental protection and sustainable economic growth, saying such growth could alleviate poverty and increase food security.

The CTI-CFF event was attended by more than 150 scientists as well as the official government of the member countries. There were 170 academic papers delivered at the forum.

Indonesia will participate in the International Coral Reefs Symposium (ICRS) held in Cairns, Australia in the next few weeks, where the country’s marine advocates will again promote stewardship of it’s coral reefs. 

Indonesia’s commitments also come in the wake of an ominous report presented at the International Coral Reef Symposium  on Monday. The report said more than 85 percent of the Coral Triangle is directly threatened by human activities such as coastal development, pollution, and overfishing.

Antara

Ministry hails WWF`s guidelines for sustainable fisheries

Antara News, Sun, June 10 2012

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Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - The maritime affairs and fisheries ministry hails the recent publication of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)`s sustainable fisheries guidelines for Fisheries Better Management Practices.

(ANTARA/Yusran Ucang)

The guidelines are in line with the current fishery trend which follows the code of conduct for responsible fisheries (CCRF), Endroyono, an official of the maritime affairs and fisheries ministry, said here, Sunday.

The guidelines will be distributed among others to fishermen, farmers, and fishery companies in Indonesia, he said.

WWF-NTT officer Yeni Nomeni said the Fisheries Better Management Practices (BMP) guidelines, the first ever published in Indonesia, are very applicable by fisheries actors; fishermen, farmers and fisheries companies.

The guidelines have been drafted from learning experiences of a WWF-Indonesia team when they worked with fishermen and farmers in several regions such as in Tarakan and Berau in East Kalimantan, Aceh, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, Solor Alor Isles in East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, and Bitung in North Sulwesi.

WWF-Indonesia`s National Fisheries Program Leader Imam Musthofa Zainuddin said WWF`s BMP for Sustainable Fisheries are different with other similar guidelines since they emphasize both sustainability aspect and operational level.

The complete set of sustainable fisheries guidelines for Fisheries Better Management Practices concern a number of major fisheries commodities, for instance groupers, snappers, shrimps, tuna and tilapia.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

Yudhoyono Gets Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior Invite

Jakarta Globe, June 07, 2012

Greenpeace's new Rainbow Warrior will be christened at a sustainable
development summit in Rio de Janeiro. (Photo from greenpeace.org)

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Greenpeace has invited President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to board its new Rainbow Warrior ship at the upcoming UN environmental meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

At the presidential office in Jakarta on Thursday, Yudhoyono met with executives from the international environmental advocacy group, including Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace Asia executive director Von Hernandez and Nur Hidayati, head of the Greenpeace Indonesia office.

Naidoo told a press conference after the meeting that the invitation was in light of the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio De Janeiro from June 20-22.

Despite Greenpeace’s often critical stance on the Indonesian government’s environmental record, including a one-year-old deforestation moratorium that critics have lambasted as poorly enforced, Naidoo praised the nation on Thursday for its “commitment” to environmental issues.

“Indonesia has shown its commitment not only to environmental issues but also to encouraging synergy between the economic and environmental sectors and poverty reduction,” Naidoo said.

“The results of my discussion with the president show that economic growth, environmental protection and poverty reduction can go together,” he added.

Naidoo further said Greenpeace had extended an invitation to Yudhoyono to board its new Rainbow Warrior ship, which will be christened on the sidelines of the Rio summit.

He added that the third Rainbow Warrior was scheduled to visit Indonesia next year. The first Rainbow Warrior was bombed in 1985, while the second was retired in August of last year.

Naidoo did not say, however, whether Yudhoyono accepted the invitation.

Antara/JG

Related Article:

Greenpeace to monitor Shell Arctic drilling with submarines

Greenpeace plans on deploying two small submarines to watch
 for signs of trouble when Shell begins drilling its Arctic oil wells,
set for later this summer