9634 Indonesian Islands Nameless

VIVAnews – Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno sees a fundamental problem in Indonesia with regard to maritime issues.

Not only is the country ignoring maritime development and failing to prioritize continental-oriented infrastructure, the lack of attention is also evident from certain things that are actually not difficult to do.

One of these not-so-difficult things that Indonesia has failed to do is to name thousands of its islands. “There are 9634 islands that do not have names. This is a concern given the fact that Indonesia is an archipelagic country,” said Purdijatno , Jakarta, Wednesday, Feb. 25.

According to data from the Department of Domestic Affairs in 2004, out of 17,499 islands, only 7,870 have names. Meanhwhile the number of islands owned by Indonesia has decreased from 17,508. “Sipadan Island and Ligitan Island is no longer ours. Seven other islands have sunk,” said Purdijatno.

After the founding of the Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, things are indeed looking more positive. However, according to Purdijatno, it is not enough because out of 42 million impoverished people in Indonesia, 60 percent of them are from fishing communities,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Freddy Numberi said that Indonesia does not have a national policy that supports the maximum utilization of its waters. In addition, funding for maritime development is minimal.

“It’s ironic that as an archipelagic country we do not have a maritime policy,” said Numberi, Jakarta, Wednesday, Feb. 25.

While in fact, he added, at this time there are more than 20 countries that have started or even implemented maritime policies. “Among them are the United States, Canada, India and Brazil. What about Indonesia?” said Numberi.

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Translated by: Ramona Sofianne Dewi Sasradipoera