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Dear Readers,

GeoPolitical Boundaries has just move to a new address: www.geoboundaries.co.nr
Please feel free to visit our new address. All old postings are kept for your conveniences.

Best Regards,
Andi Arsana

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The Road to Europe

The 33rd International Geological Congress will be held in Oslo, Norway on 6-14 August 2008. One of the session will be the UNCLOS Symposium which deals with legal and technical issues concerning extended continental shelf. Clive and I are coauthoring a joint paper to be presented in the session.

The journey to Europe is planned to include a visit to The Max Planck Institute, in Germany and NILOS, in the Netherlands. Arrangement is currently being made with parties in both institution.

Schengen visa has been secured from the Danish Consulate General in Sydney. Travel grant is provided by the AusAID, Faculty of Law - UoW, RSC - UoW and ANCORS - UoW.

Here is the abstract for the presentation:

Smooth sailing or choppy waters ahead?
Indonesia’s Voyage Towards a Submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

I Made Andi Arsana and Clive Schofield


Abstract

Indonesia is currently engaged in preparing its submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in respect of its claims to sovereign rights over continental shelf areas beyond 200 nautical miles from its archipelagic baselines, the deadline for which is 13 May 2009. The paper outlines the development of Indonesia’s ECS claim and details the current status of the submission preparations. In particular the paper explores the institutional, financial, political, legal and technical challenges faced by Indonesia in this context and assesses the strategies adopted by the Indonesian team charged with preparation of the submission to the CLCS to overcome them.

Keywords: extended continental shelf, LOSC, Article 76, CLSC, submission, formulae, constraint, Indonesia maritime boundaries

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RI lays claim to continental shelf -- and rich resources

Opinion in the Jakarta Post, Thu, 07/17/2008 10:10 AM

On June 16, 2008, Indonesia made a submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) regarding its claim to continental shelf rights beyond 200 nautical miles of its coast.

This was done in accordance with Article 76 of the UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). As part of the submission, a coastal state has to delineate the outer limits of its continental shelf.

The above process is commonly recognized as an "extending maritime claim". However, Indonesia is not extending its maritime area, but confirming its limits beyond 200 miles.

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Indonesia confirming its extended continental shelf

While working seriously on the establishment of maritime boundaries with its neighbors, Indonesia is also, confirming its extended continental shelf (ECS). According to Article 76 of the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Indonesia, being a coastal state, is entitled to continental shelf (seabed) beyond 200 nautical miles (M) from its baselines. For this purpose, a coastal state should delineate the outer limits of its continental shelf and make a submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) through the UN Secretary General. Indonesia made a submission on 16 June 2008 and CLCS will subsequently consider the submission and provide recommendations.

Commonly, the delineation process is also recognized as ‘extending maritime claim’, which is not necessary the case. Indonesia is not extending its maritime area, but only confirming its outer limits beyond 200 M. For continental shelf, a coastal state secures sovereign rights for exploration and exploitation, which “do not depend on occupation, effective or notional, or on any express proclamation.” (UNCLOS, Article 77)

Indonesia is the twelfth state that submits its ECS after the first submission made by the Russian Federation in 2001. Approaching the deadline of submission on 13 May 2009 for those who ratified UNCLOS before 13 may 1999, many more submissions are coming to the desk of CLCS in New York. Executive summaries of all submissions are available on the website of CLCS for all other states to respond.

After a long preparation, Indonesia finally submitted its ECS to the UN for the area to the north-west of Sumatra. As indicated, it was a partial submission, meaning that Indonesia is planning to make other submissions in the near future. It is anticipated that two more submissions will be made before 13 May 2009: south of Nusa Tenggara and north of Papua. Indonesian team for ECS is now working on technical and non-technical aspects for the two, which require a lot of resources.

With regards to submission deadline, the latest Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS decided that a coastal state may submit “preliminary information indicative of the outer limits of the continental shelf” together with “a description of the status of preparation and intended date of making a submission” (SPLOS/183). This confirms that a coastal state does not have to provide all supporting data and documents by the deadline (13 May 2009) but instead, can provide preliminary submission or even an indication of submission. All supporting data and documents can be provided at a later time. In this case, the original deadline does not change but the requirement of submission is significantly easier.

Indonesia’s submission is the first one made by Asian states and is considered as one of the earliest submissions by developing states. To some extents, the submission can be a good influence for other developing states, which are struggling with technical and financial difficulties. No matter what CLCS’ response will be, Indonesia’s submission deserves appreciation and is a sign of hope in desperation among developing states.

With regards to Indonesia’s submission, one important issue that may raise is the area of ECS submitted. It proposes an ECS of 3915 km², which roughly equals the large of Madura Island. From a sovereign rights perspective, where Indonesia can only utilize natural resources and does not have full sovereignty, such area may seem insignificant. It can easily spark question, why would Indonesia claim such a small area after spending a lot of resources for preparation that took around ten years to accomplish?

To understand the situation, one should know how complicated it is to establish the outer limits of ECS. Article 76 specifies complicated procedure that involves bathymetric and seismic survey (CLCS/11). Even though desktop study might helps in the preliminary process, the real ECS can never be known without real surveys. Technical survey, which is expensive, is required to know precisely whether Indonesia can have ECS. Therefore, after a complicated and expensive process, the size of claim should not stop Indonesia from making a submission. In addition, the current submission is only one of the total three potential submissions.

Furthermore, ECS is a future investment. Prescott (2008), an internationally-renowned maritime boundary expert, states that “we must take the long view”. At present, we might not know what lies beneath, but we can always expect something precious in the future. Furthermore, this is a good opportunity for Indonesia to confirm its sovereign rights as it will be final and binding, once the delineation is made on the basis of CLCS’ recommendation. If it is not now, Indonesia may lose the opportunity.

What can Indonesia expect from the extension? No detailed research has been done to the proposed area so that it is too early to judge. However, in theory, there are a lot of potential resources in and on the seabed, both living and non living. Oil and gas are two traditional resources that can be explored. Furthermore, the deep seabed is unique environment where organisms with special characteristics live. The behavior, process and activities they demonstrate can be subjects of researches that may be useful for human being. In short, a coastal state can make use of any living and non-living organisms that live on (attached) or under the surface of the seabed.

To sum up, the submission of ECS by Indonesia is good news for other developing states, which are currently preparing their submissions. It can also be a positive motivation, to an extent. It also brings hopes for Indonesia in the future for any potential resources to harvest. However, we can not hold our breath since there is still a long way before CLCS can make recommendation on the submission. Let us hope for good result.

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Finally, Indonesia submits its ECS to the UN

The day has come. Indonesia finally submitted the outer limits of its Extended Continental Shelf to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). The submission was made on 16 June 2008 after a 9-year preparation. The Ambassador Marty Natalegawa lodged the document to DOALOS and was received by Mr. Miculca, the director.

A 10-page executive summary of the submission is now available in the website of CLCS for other parties' interest. The executive summary is reasonably short but concisely informs key points of the Indonesia's submission. The submission covers the area to the north west of Sumatra, encompassing a reasonably small area of continental shelf. The summary containing the map of the area can be downloaded from the website of CLCS.

The submission made by Indonesia was a partial one and more submission will follow before the deadline is due, which is 13 May 2009. The Indonesian team consisting of various institutions is now preparing for the other submission.

As per today, not much to say about the submission and no response has been made so far by other countries. Furthermore, the submission will be considered by the Commission in its session in 2009. There is still a long way to go. No matter what, it is a great move by Indonesia and it deserves an appreciation. Congratulation for the submission and fingers crossed for the result.

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Singapore won Pedra Branca: What’s Next?

See also this article published in the Jakarta Post.

A big decision has been made. The International Court of Justice decided to award Pedra Branca (PB, aka. Pulau Batu Puteh) to Singapore on 23 May 2008. However, it was not a complete defeat for Malaysia since it is given Middle Rocks (MR). Meanwhile, the sovereignty over the third feature disputed, South Ledge (SL), has not yet been decided.

The case of sovereignty over PB, MR, and SL was brought before the Court in 2003 by Malaysia and Singapore. The three features located in the eastern entrance of Singapore Strait have been subject to dispute for approximately 28 years. Public hearing was done in The Hague, The Netherlands, on 6-23 November 2007 where the two states addressed their arguments. The decision was made by vote approximately six months later. PB is considered as the main feature in the dispute, so that it makes sense when the decision is called as Singapore’s victory.

This case, to an extent, may remind us to a similar case involving Sipadan and Ligitan, decided in 2002 between Indonesia and Malaysia. Unlike the case where Malaysia won the two small islands, in this current decision, Malaysia had a bitter pill to swallow. However, no matter what the result is, this is a significant progress concerning sovereignty dispute resolution made by countries. It is interesting to know how ICJ could finally decide the sovereignty over these disputed features.

The Court initially concluded that the sovereignty over PB was, in the earlier time, with the Johor Sultanate, which is now part of Malaysia. After observing the history of Johor Sultanate and the Dutch and British activities regarding control of South East Asia and also the role of the East India Company, the Court concluded “the Sultanate of Johor had original title to Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh.” (para. 69 of the Judgment) Therefore, this conclusion was also an objection to Singapore’s previous argument that PB was terra nullius (ownerless), so that it was eligible for a “lawful occupation”.

However this initial conclusion did not lead to a decision to award PB to Malaysia. One of the reasons is the letter dated on September 21st, 1953 sent by the Acting State Secretary stating that “the Johore Government does not claim ownership of Pedra Branca.” (para. 196 of the Judgment) This letter was a reply to a letter sent previously by Colonial Secretary of Singapore to the British Adviser to the Sultan of Johor concerning status of the island. This letter of September 21st, 1953 became the key for the Court to conclude that Sultan of Johor disclaimed sovereignty over PB and then concludes that “the authorities in Singapore had no reason to doubt that the United Kingdom had sovereignty over the island.” (para. 233 of the Judgment)

The reason of the Court in deciding the case may be debatable, but the decision is final and binding. Like it or not, both parties should accept it. This has, of course, been agreed upon prior to bringing the case before the Court. If the decision is unquestionable, so what is next? The interesting step to watch is the delimitation of maritime boundaries in the Singapore Strait in the aftermath of the big decision by the Court.

It has been widely understood that the strait where those three features located is a busy shipping route. Therefore the certainty of sovereignty and sovereign rights over maritime area around the features is undoubtedly important. Hence, the delimitation of maritime boundaries among three relevant parties: Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia is important. This will, hopefully, generate definitive line dividing maritime areas under each country’s jurisdiction.

It is worth recalling that Indonesia and Malaysia agreed seabed boundaries in the area in 1969 generating a line starting from point 11 (around 12 km to the east of PB) heading northeast in the South China Sea. In 1973, Indonesia also concluded a maritime boundary with Singapore consisting six points where the eastern tip of the line is point 6. Simply speaking, there are some pending boundary segments that these three neighboring states need to settle.

In a technical perspective, line delimiting maritime space in the area can be constructed by equidistance principle (or median line) considering that it also deals with territorial sea (up to 12 nautical miles from baseline/coastline of each state) as it is indicated in article 15 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. Meanwhile, for maritime area beyond 12 nautical miles, (exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf) “equitable solution” is suggested by article 74 and 83 of UNCLOS and equidistance is not always necessarily equitable. For this purpose, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will need to sit together or bilaterally for negotiation.

Some relevant considerations may include a) the fact that these three features are reasonably small and lay in an ‘inconvenient’ position that may complicate the delimitation, b) the possibility for these three features to generate their own maritime claims (territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf), and c) existing maritime boundaries among the three neighboring states. No matter how difficult it is for the three states to delimit their maritime boundaries, the immediate process will, undoubtedly, be better for all. Certainty in maritime division will provide each state with clarity in utilizing and managing maritime resources. The good will and good faith of the neighboring states will be the key for future delimitation.

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Australia's new maritime area

I Made Andi Arsana, Jakarta, Mon, 05/26/2008 10:19 AM

Australia has just been confirmed by the United Nations for its maritime extension. Almost all Australian media released news concerning the extension and some even wrote provocative headlines. The Australian (April 21), for example, stated "Australia expands into new territory". Is it territory that Australia expands?

The term "territory" here did not refer to land territory. In fact, the use of the word "territory" here is inappropriate since the extension concerns the maritime area beyond 12 nautical miles (M) from baseline (coastline). Australia, in fact, has not expanded its territory in terms of sovereignty but maritime jurisdiction (continental shelf or seabed) in the sense of sovereign rights. While for sovereignty a coastal state exercises full control over a certain area, for sovereign rights such coastal states do not have full control but merely utilize resources with particular responsibilities.

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Pulau Batu Puteh for Singapore

Pada tanggal 23 Mei 2008, Mahkamah Internasional (ICJ) telah memutuskan bahwa Pulau Batu Puteh yang disengketakan oleh Malaysia dan Singapura akhirnya diberikan kepada Singapura. Keputusan ini dinyatakan oleh ICJ yang berkedudukan di The Hauge, seperti dapat dibaca dalam press release dan keputusannya sendiri.

Satu dari dua obyek lain yang juga menjadi sengketa yaitu Middle Rock diputuskan menjadi milik Malaysia. Sementara itu, South Ledge yang merupakan elevasi pasut (tenggelam ketika air pasang dan muncul hanya saat air surut), belum diputuskan kepemilikannya. Kepemilikian South Ledge tergantung dari hak atas laut teritorial tempat South Ledge berada. Jika laut teritorial tempat South Ledge berada terbukti merupakan kewenangan Malaysia maka South Ledge akan menjadi milik Malaysia, demikian pula jika seandainya Singapura yang berwenang atas laut teritorial tersebut.

Meskipun Malaysia mendapatkan Middle Rock, hal ini, oleh beberapa pihak, tetap dianggap sebagai kekalahan Malaysia karena obyek kunci dalam sengketa adalah Pulau Batu Puteh atau Pedra Branca (nama yang dikenal oleh Singapura). Meski demikian, hasil keputusan ini juga diistilahkan sebagai "win win solution" karena keduanya sama-sama mendapatkan bagian. Gambar berikut mengilustrasikan posisi Malaysia, Singapura dan Indonesia serta Pedra Branca yang dulu menjadi sengketa.

Lepas dari hasil yang tentunya menggembirakan bagi satu pihak sekaligus membawa kekecewaan di pihak lain, keputusan ini merupakan sebuah penyelesaian sengketa yang patut diapresiasi. Setelah kurang lebih 28 tahun menjadi sengketa, Pedra Branca akhirnya dikeluarkan dari daftar panjang sengketa pulau dalam hubungan antarbangsa. Dengan demikian, Malaysia kini bisa dengan leluasa dan sah melakukan eksplorasi di perairan sekitar Middle Rock yang sebelumnya tidak jelas kewenangannya. Demikian juga dengan Singapura, pengelolaan Mercusuar di Pedra Branca kini menjadi jelas legalitasnya.

Menilik kejadian serupa hampir enam tahun lalu, Malaysia ternyata tidak berhasil mengulang kesuksesannya memenangkan sengketa atas kepemilikan pulau. Ketika itu, Malaysia memenangkan kedaulatan atas Pulau Sipadan dan Ligitan yang disengketakan dengan Indonesia. Setelah melalui usaha negosiasi yang panjang, Malaysia dan Indonesia juga bersepakat untuk membawa kasus tersebut ke ICJ yang akhirnya dimenangkan oleh Malaysia.

Sama halnya dengan kasus Sipadan dan Ligitan, Malaysia dan Singapura hanya meminta ICJ untuk menentukan kepemilikan/kedaulatan atas pulau yang disengketakan tetapi tidak memintanya menentukan batas maritim. Mengingat delimitasi batas maritim akan merupakan sesuatu yang tidak mudah dilakukan, keputusan ICJ ini belum sepenuhnya menyelesaikan sengketa antara dua negara. Dalam hal ini, persoalan tetap ada termasuk dengan Indonesia yang merupakan negara terdekat dengan keduanya. Batas maritim di sekitar Pedra Branca tentunya sebagian besar merupakan urusan Malaysia dan Singapura tetapi tetap akan memerlukan keterlibatan Indonesia pada lokasi tertentu yang merupakan titik temu tiga atau tri-juction point.

Delimitasi batas maritim di kawasan laut sekitar Pedra Branca merupakan agenda selanjutnya yang harus diprioritaskan oleh Malaysia, Singapura dan juga Indonesia. Batas maritim ini penting karena akan menentukan kewenangan atas wilayah laut masing-masing negara di kawasan yang sangat sibuk dengan pelayaran. Kita tunggu bagaimana penyelesainnya nanti.

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Malysia-Indonesia maritime dispute remains stalled

Malaysia has ruled out the possibility of the International Court of Justice helping in negotiations with Indonesia over a disputed oil-rich area on their maritime border.

Presenter: Bo Hill
Speaker: I Made Andi Arsana, lecturer, Department of Geodesy and Geomatic Engineering, Gadjah Mada University

HILL: In 2004 and 2005 respectively, Indonesia and Malaysia awarded oil and gas exploration licences in the area of sea between Indonesia's East Kalimantan province and Malaysia's Sabah state. In the rush for energy resources, the two growing economies had, however, handed out licences for areas that overlapped. It prompted a military stand-off defused only by leaders Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Susilo Bambang Yudhuyono. They pledged to resolve the dispute peacefully through negotiations. I Made Andi Arsana, a maritime border specialist and lecturer at the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, says in the three years since there has been a lot of talk but not much resolution.

ARSANA: Indonesia and Malaysia have been conducting years of negotiations - as far as I know it has been more than five times. It's very intensive negotiations, at the very beginning they did it like every three months but then, you know, the frequency is getting lower.

Continue reading...

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Two ECS submissions by May 2008

Barbados


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UK and Northern Ireland for Ascension Island


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Eleven ECS submissions have been made

As up to the end of 2007, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf had received nine submissions of outer limits of continental shelf by coastal states. In 2008 (as per 9 May 2009) two more submission have also been made. Therefore, eleven submissions in total have been filed by the Commission. The submitters are Russia (20 December 2001), Brazil (17 May 2004), Ireland (20 May 2005), New Zealand (19 April 2006), joint submission by Spain, Northern Ireland, UK and France (19 Mei 2006), Norway (27 November 2006), France (22 May 2007), Mexico (13 December 2007), Barbados (8 May 2008) and UK and Northern Ireland (9 May 08).

How about Indonesia?
Indonesia has one year to go until 13 May 2009. No submission has been made so far. However, Indonesia is ready to submit ECS for the location to the west of Aceh as revealed in the website of Bakosurtanal.

Baca juga : Perluasan Wilayah Australia

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QA: What is baseline?

Baseline dalam Bahasa Indonesia disebut garis pangkal. Dalam terminologi batas maritim, garis pangkal adalah garis referensi yang merupakan acuan untuk mengukur lebar yurisdiksi maritim (laut teritorial, zona tambahan, zee dan landas kontinen).

Menurut UNCLOS 1982, garis pangkal meliputi garis pangkal normal, lurus, kepulauan, penutup mulut sungai, penutup teluk, serta garis pangkal yang melewati pulau kecil atau karang serta pelabuhan.

Secara teknis, garis pangkal ditetapkan pada saat permukaan air rendah. Dalam hal ini referensi yang digunakan adalah Lowest Astronomical Time (LAT)

Untuk informasi lebih lanjut silahkan baca buku "Batas Maritim Antarnegara" Bab 3.

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Perluasan Wilayah Australia

Pada hari Senin (21/4/08) berbagai media massa Australia memberitakan perluasan wilayah Australia yang menjadi pembicaraan hangat di berbagai kalangan di negeri Kangguru ini. Wajar jika berita ini menarik perhatian karena media massa juga menulis headline yang cukup provokatif. The Australian, misalnya, menulis ”Australia expands into new territory”. Jika tidak disertai pemahaman yang baik, judul berita ini bisa saja disalahartikan. Benarkan Australia memperbesar wilayahnya? Bagaimana dengan Indonesia?

Lanjut...

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Celebrating a hundred years of maritime nation

Opinion in The Jakarta Post by I Made Andi Arsana, 26 April 2008

"Nenek moyangku orang pelaut/Gemar mengarung luas samudera/Menerjang ombak tiada takut/Menempuh badai sudah biasa ...."

(Our ancestors were sailors/ They sailed across the oceans/ Challenged the waves fearlessly/Surfed the storm familiarly.)

In the early 1990s or before, the above song was popular in Indonesia. I wonder whether Indonesian children nowadays still sing this song. One thing for sure, children seem to be more interested in drawing mountain views rather than seas. Does it indicate a degradation of the maritime spirit? Let us go back a while.

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Perihal Perluasan Wilayah Australia

Pada hari Senin (21/04/08) berbagai media massa Australia memberitakan perluasan wilayah Australia yang menjadi pembicaraan hangat di berbagai kalangan di negeri Kangguru ini. Wajar jika berita ini menarik perhatian karena media massa juga menulis headline yang cukup provokatif. The Australian, misalnya menulis “Australia expands into new territory” Jika tidak diserta pemahamkan yang baik, judul berita ini bisa saja disalahartikan. Benarkan Australia memperbesar wilayahnya? Bagaimana dengan Indonesia?

Yang dimaksud dengan territory oleh The Australian sesungguhnya bukanlah wilayah darat yang padanya berlaku kedaulatan penuh. Penggunaan territory di sini sesungguhnya kurang tepat karena yang diperluas adalah wilayah maritim, khususnya landas kontinen (dasar laut). Australia tidak memperluas wilayah kedaulatan (sovereignty) tetapi kawasan hak berdaulat (sovereign rights). Dalam hukum internasional, kedua istilah ini memiliki pengertian yang signifikan berbeda. Pada sovereignty berlaku kedaulatan penuh sedangkan pada sovereign rights tidak. Padanya hanya berlaku ketentuan bahwa sebuah negara berhak memanfaatkan sumberdaya alam dengan tanggungjawab tertentu.

Mengenal Perluasan Landas Kontinen
Perluasan landas kontinen ini memang dimungkinkan dan diatur dalam Konvensi PBB tentang Hukum Laut (United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS) Pasal 76. Dalam Konvensi ini dikatakan bahwa landas kontinen sebuah negara pantai (coastal state) dapat mencapai batas terluar tepian kontinennya atau sampai pada jarak 200 mil laut (M) dari garis pangkal (garis pantai) jika batas terluar tepian kontinennya tidak mencapai jarak 200 M. Selanjutnya dikatakan bahwa negara pantai juga bisa menambah landas kontinennya melebihi 200 M dari garis pangkal (Landas Kontinen Ekstensi, LKE). Jika menginginkan LKE, negara pantai tersebut harus mendelineasi batas terluar landas kontinen yang baru dan mengajukannya kepada Komisi PBB (Commission on the limits of the Continental Shelf, CLCS). Hingga kini, sembilan pengajuan sudah masuk ke CLCS.

Untuk mengklaim LKE ini, sebuah negara harus melakukan pembuktian sesuai dengan ketentuan Pasal 76 UNCLOS. Ada dua kriteria yang memungkinkan yaitu yang terkait dengan ketebalan batuan sedimen di dasar laut atau menggunakan kriteria jarak dari bagian dasar laut yang disebut kaki lereng. Prosedur ini sangat rumit dan memerlukan integrasi berbagai disiplin teknis seperti geodesi, geofisika, hidrografi dan geologi. Untuk membuktikan ini, tentu saja harus dilakukan survei batimetri untuk mengetahui profil dasar laut dan survei seismik untuk mengetahui ketebalan sedimen.

Selain itu ada juga konstrin dalam menentukan batas terluar LKE ini. Batas terluar LKE tidak boleh melebihi jarak 350 M dari garis pangkal atau tidak melebihi garis kedalaman 2500 meter ditambah 100 M ke arah laut lepas.

Bisa dipahami, memang tidak mudah memahami prosedur klaim LKE, terlebih bagi mereka yang tidak menekuni disiplin yang disebutkan sebelumnya. Meski begitu, tentu bisa dimengerti bahwa penentuan LKE ini sangatlah rumit, memerlukan sumberdaya dengan kualifikasi memadai, dan yang terpenting memerlukan biaya yang sangat tinggi.

Australia mengajukannya LKE kepada CLCS pada tahun 2004. Pengajuan ini nampaknya sudah mendapat rekomendasi/persetujuan dari CLCS seperti yang diungkapkan Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson, di berbagai media. Tidak tanggung-tanggung, perluasan ini menjapai 2,5 juta km² yang diklaim setara dengan lima kali wilayah Prancis. Perluasan ini tentunya memungkinkan Australia untuk menambah potensi eksploitasi migas dan sumberdaya laut lainnya di masa depan.

Bagaimana dengan Indonesia?
Seperti halnya Australia, Indonesiapun berhak atas LKE. Hingga tulisan ini dibuat, Indonesia belum mengajukan LKE kepada CLCS, sementara itu waktu yang dimiliki tinggal satu tahun hingga 13 Mei 2009. Meski demikian, pihak terkait sudah melakukan usaha otimal untuk melakuan delineasi. Menurut berita dari Badan Koordinasi Survey dan Pemetaan Nasional (bakosurtanal.go.id, 15/02/08), Indonesia sudah siap mengajukan LKE untuk kawasan sebelah barat Aceh dengan luas kurang lebih setara dengan Pulau Madura.

Rencana delineasi dan pengajuan LKE ini memang potensial menjadi perdebatan. Ada beberapa pihak yang mempertanyakan apakah biaya yang dihabiskan akan sebanding dengan manfaat yang diperoleh? Ada juga yang mungkin mengatakan bahwa ekstensi ini tidak perlu mengingat Indonesia masih harus berkonsentrasi dengan urusan lain yang lebih urgent. Meski demikian, saya pribadi berpendapat bahwa perluasan landas kontinen ini perlu dilakukan untuk investasi masa depan.

Mungkin Indonesia belum melihat potensi sumberdaya alam di kawasan tersebut saat ini, kita tidak pernah tahu apa yang bisa dimanfaatkan dari kawasan tersebut di masa depan seiring kemajuan teknologi. Mengingat pengajuan ini dibatasi tenggat waktu, sinergi semua pihak terkait tentu sangat diperlukan. Semua pihak yang terlibat dalam proyek ini tentu sudah menyadari hal ini dan akan berbuat yang terbaik. Semoga.

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Bangla-Myanmar maritime boundary talks ended inconclusively

Sengketa batas maritim berkepanjangan yang telah berusia sekitar 21 tahun antara Bangladesh dan Myanmar akhirnya dirundingkan kembali. Pertemuan dua hari tersebut berlangsung di Dhaka, ibukota Bangladesh selama dua hari tanggal 1-2 April 2008. Meski bisa dikatakan sebagai kemajuan dalam hubungan kedua negara dalam usaha menetapkan batas maritim, pertemua tersebut berakhir tanpa hasil. Kedua negara yang bersengketa di Teluk Bengal tidak berhasil menyatukan pandangan sehingga tidak bisa menyepakati garis batas tunggal seperti yang diinginkan.

Teluk Bengal merupakan salah satu lokasi di muka bumi yang dipenuhi sengketa maritim karena sangat banyak negara yang memliki kepentingan hak berdaulat di wilayah tersebut. Sementara itu, India dan Myanmar telah menyepakati batas maritim dengan menggunakan metode garis ekuidistan yang memungkinkan kedua negara melakukan eksplorasi dan ekslpoitasi sumberdaya di Teluk Bengal dengan lebih luasa secara legal.

Mengingat berakhirnya perundingan antara Bangladesh dan Myanmar yang tanpa keputusan, negosiasi akan dilanjutkan sekitar bulan Juni 2008 di Yangon, ibukota Myanmar. Kita tunggu apakah kedua negara akan berhasil menyepakati batas maritim mereka.

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Kuliah Umum di Undip

Silahkan download bahan kuliah umum di sini

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Global warming and the threat to sovereignty

Read also a similar article in The Jakarta Post

Global Warming (GW) is currently one of the most popular issues. United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Bali last year was one of the indications.

GW certainly has a lot of impacts. This article deals with the impact of GW to sovereignty, especially to sea level rise and its relation to small islands, maritime jurisdiction, and international maritime boundaries.

Indonesia is an archipelagic state with more than 17 thousands islands. According to the President Decree no. 78/2005, Indonesia has 92 small islands. These small islands include several outer islands, with strategic values to national sovereignty. On these outer islands, basepoints are placed to construct baselines for references in measuring maritime jurisdiction including territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The baselines are also the reference in delimiting maritime boundaries with ten neighboring states: India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Australia and East Timor.

With regard to temperature rise, the UN reveals that during 20th century, global temperature increase was up to 0.74°C. If carbon dioxide concentrations were stabilized at 550 ppm the average warming would likely be in the range of 2-4.5°C, with the best estimate of 3°C.

Other phenomenon is the melt down of polar ice. This contributes to sea level rise of 17 cm during the 20th century. It is predicted that sea level rise may be within the range of 28-58 cm by the end of the 21st century (UN, 2007).

One of the impacts of sea level rise is the submergence of small islands or low-land area. Low-lying South Pacific nations like Kiribati, and Vanuatu, for example, are sinking beneath the waves (NZ Herald, 2006).

Meanwhile, more dramatic news has been spreading out in Indonesia. It is predicted to lose around 2,000 islands in 2030 due to GW. Interestingly, this news has been asserted by Prof. Indroyono Susilo from the Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Kompas.com, 27 February 2008) and the head of Yogyakarta Bureau of Meteorology and Geophysics (MBG) (Antara, 23 May 2007). Murjaya, for example stated that sea level rise may be up to 29 cm in 2030. It can be inferred that at least 2,000 islands in Indonesia are less then 29 cm in height. Unfortunately, it has not been confirmed whether the supporting data is available. Murjaya, on the other hand, also confirmed that it was not based on research conducted by BMG.

Even though the numbers of islands sinking due to GW cannot be easily predicted, the potential is however obvious. Submergence of small outer islands will, consequently change baselines, which in turn may alter the status and extent of Indonesia’s maritime area. This, therefore, is a serious issue that may threaten sovereignty (island submergence) and sovereign rights (maritime jurisdiction).

Although we should be aware of any issues concerning GW and submergence of islands, we need to be clear of some matters to avoid misunderstanding. For example, we should understand the definition of island according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Article 121 states that an island should be naturally formed, surrounded by water, and above sea level during high tide. The last criterion closely relates to Geodesy and Hydrography as it deals with sea tide observation. Without precise data of sea tide and height of every single island in Indonesia, we cannot tell numbers of islands sinking due to GW. It is even difficult to tell which objects are island and which are not.

With regards to international maritime boundaries, does GW have anything to do? Sea level rise can definitely change coast line and, ultimately, baselines. This can alter the extent of maritime claims but will not change the already agreed maritime boundaries with neighbors. This is pursuant to Article 62 (2)(a) of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969 which serves to exclude boundary treaties from the rule that a party to a treaty may invoke “a fundamental change in circumstances” as a ground for terminating a treaty on notice. In addition, the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties of 1978 also provides that a succession of states “does not as such affect a boundary established by a treaty or obligations and rights established by a treaty and relating to the regime of a boundary” (Article 11, Boundary regimes). In other words, GW will not change the already established maritime boundaries but may affect the boundaries that yet to be settled.

Being an archipelagic state, GW should be Indonesia’s serious concern as it may affect sovereignty. The question is how to fight GW? Can this global phenomenon be influenced by an individual action? It should be admitted that the change in energy usage behavior may be the key to fight GW. Unfortunately, this, most of the time, is beyond the power of ordinary people, but in the hand of only few people with power in the society.

What we can do is something small but still makes an impact. Taufik Ismail wrote that we might not be able to be a banyan tree but we can be bushes around a lake. We can also be grass, which might not be tall and strong but it strengthen the river banks. Even though we cannot do something like Andrew Shepherd (Movie The American President, 1995) who asserted that the White House will send “Resolution 455, an energy bill requiring a twenty percent reduction of the emission of fossil fuels over the next ten years”, at least we can say “no plastic bag please” when buying a book. What small thing have you done to fight GW today?

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BSM 2008: Scientific and Exotic

Bali Scientific Meeting 2008 adalah satu dari sedikit pertemuan ilmiah geospasial yang berlokasi di Bali. Biasanya, pertemuan semacam ini lebih sering di Jawa, tempat para pendekar geospasial berguru, menyebarkan kanuragan dan bahkan bertapa. Menggagas sebuah acara semacam ini di Bali adalah sebuah ide unik dan berani. Meski demikian, ada juga yang ‘mencurigai’ acara ini dipaskan dengan long weekend yang berlangsung hingga 4 hari. Apapun itu, jalan ceritanya menarik untuk disimak, setidaknya oleh mereka yang tidak sempat datang.

Saya menyebutnya eksotik, bukan saja karena dilaksanakan di Bali yang memang kata banyak orang adalah Pulau Surga, tetapi karena kemasan acaranya juga sangat kental dengan budaya dan kesenian Bali. Lihat saja, misalnya, welcome dinner-nya yang diadakan di sebuah tempat pertunjukan berupa rumah tradisional Bali dengan arsitektur yang kental Asta Kosala Kosali-nya. Lantunan Jegog, gamelan tradisional Bali dari bambu yang diciptakan tahun 1912, menemani para undangan dan peserta BSM 2008 duduk di atas tikar pandan yang digelar di hamparan rumput hijau setengah berembun. Prof. Aris Poniman berbisik, “saya tidak tahu, mengapa semua ini menjadi pantes terasa, sesuatu yang kalau tidak di Bali mungkin akan terasa tabu.” Menyambut para pejabat tinggi dan pendekar geospasial di gelaran tikar pandan di atas rumput yang setengah berembun memang menjadi pantas, apalagi sambil menyaksikan tarian penyambutan khas Bali yang dibawakan empat perempuan cantik nan molek.

Undangan dan para peserta terbius oleh cerita lelaki setengah baya, pemimpin Sekaa Jegog yang mengisahkan sejarah Jegog dan perkembangannya dengan runut. Adalah Kiang (Kakek) Geliduh yang dengan kreativitas dan keisengannya menciptakan Jegog di awal abad ke-20 silam. Jenis gamelan ini kini bertahan dan menjadi salah satu ciri khas Kabupaten Jembrana, yang Bapak Bupati-nya terkenal inovatif itu.

Pagi tanggal 19 Maret 2008, acara inti dimulai di Balai Riset dan Observasi Kelautan (BROK) di Perancak, Jembrana. Sebelumnya, banyak peserta yang baru datang dari luar kota termasuk beberapa peserta dari UGM, UNDIP dan UPN Yogyakarta. Prof. Indroyono Susilo sendiri datang pada pagi itu ketika acara sudah dimulai.

Empat pembicara utama tampil bersamaan yaitu Dr. Bambang Sapto Pratomosunu (Ristek), Dr. Asep Karsidi (Kesra) Prof. Aris Poniman (Bakosurtanal) dan Prof. Yasuhiro Sugimori (Unud) dengan panduan Prof. Bangun Muljo Sukojo (ITS). Masing-masing membawakan tema yang menarik dan membuat peserta antusiasi menyimak. Dr. Bambang memulai dengan program riset unggulan ristek, diikuti Dr. Asep Karsidi dengan manajemen bencana. Pembicara ketiga adalah Prof. Aris Poniman dengan topik Inderaja untuk survei pemetaan yang dilanjutkan Prof. Sugimori yang memaparkan aplikasi SIG untuk menentukan Total Alowance Catch (TAC) dalam penangkapan eksploitasi ikan. Semua topik menarik walaupun sayang sekali tidak banyak waktu yang tersedia untuk diskusi.

Prof. Indroyono Susilo yang datang ketika keempat pembicara sedang ada di mimbar akhirnya memulai keynote speech yang sangat menarik. Inti dari presentasi beliau adalah bagaimana memasukkan aspek dan peran geospasial sehingga menjadi bagian formal dari kebijakan. Memiliki para pendekar geospasial yang kini sudah ada di posisi pembuat keputusan seharusnya menjadi nilai lebih sehingga bisa menjadikan geospasial mewarnai dan hidup dalam kebijakan-kebijakan pemerintah. Prof. Indroyono mengemukakan sebuah filosofi menarik bahwa data yang dimiliki harus diubah menjadi informasi bermanfaat yang mewujud menjadi pengetahuan (knowlegde). Meski demikian, dia tidak boleh berhenti sebelum akhirnya menjadi bagian dari kebijakan (policy). Pemaparan yang sangat menginspirasi ini memang selayaknya didengarkan oleh siapa saja yang bermain di dunia geospasial. ”Anda, sebagai anggota MAPIN, memerlukan hanya dua langkah menuju presiden” katanya suatu ketika. ”Anda tinggal sampaikan gagasan Anda ke saya, saya bilang ke menteri dan menteri meneruskan ke presiden. Sesungguhnya, gagasan MAPIN sangat mungkin menjadi kebijakan presiden dan itu tidak sulit jika mau” imbuhnya sangat inspiratif. Inilah gunanya hadir dalam sebuah pertemuan ilmiah yang manfaatnya tidak bisa dinilai dengan Rp. 100 ribu uang registrasi dan sekian rupiah ongkos pesawat :)

Mengingat waktu yang terbatas dan jumlah pemakalah yang tidak sedikit, panitia memutuskan presentasi dilakukan secara paralel di tiga lokasi berbeda. Berbagai presentasi menarik disuguhkan oleh pemakalah yang terkait aplikasi RS GIS untuk kelautan. Ada juga penelitian dasar seperti kajian karakteristik spektral bakau di Estuari Perancak. Selain itu, ada beberapa presentasi terkait kawasan konservasi laut daerah (KKLD) serta zonasi dan koservasi ekosistem pesisir. Landas kontinen di luar 200 mil laut dan usaha Indonesia dalam mengajukan klaimnya kepada PBB juga menjadi salah satu topik presentasi. Sayang sekali, karena ketiga sesi berjalan secara paralel, tidak mungkin mengikuti presentasi semua pemakalah. Untunglah panitia melakukan langkah terpuji dengan membagikan file presentasi semua pemakalah dalam bentuk CD. Hal ini tentu sangat membantu peserta lain dalam memahami materi pemakalah yang tidak sempat disaksikannya.

Yang menarik, dalam BSM 2008 ini ada presentasi dari 2 mahasiswa: Farid Yuniar dan Krisna Arimjaya. Keduanya adalah mahasiswa semester 8 Teknik Geodesi UGM yang baru pertama kali menulis makalah untuk pertemuan ilmiah. Farid mempresentasikan aplikasi SIG berbasis Internet untuk visualisasi Pulau Pulau Kecil di Indonesia sedangkan Krisna menyajikan aplikasi Google Maps API untuk sistem informasi batas maritim Indonesia. Meski mungkin masih cukup sederhana untuk peserta BSM 2008, gagasan ini berhasil mereka bawakan dengan baik. Tanggapan dari pesertapun cukup antusias.

Acara BSM 2008 ditutup oleh Kepala BROK sekitar pukul 5 sore. Dalam pidato penutupannya beliau sempat berkelakar ”kok mau-maunya peserta ditipu, diajak diskusi di tempat yang sangat terpencil di Perancak” yang disambut tawa peserta. Meskipun tidak bisa menyembunyikan kelelahannya, sore itu panitia nampak gembira karena acara berlangsung sukses. Kehadiran tidak kurang dari 70 peserta dengan sekitar 25 presentasi adalah salah satu buktinya. Selain itu, pelaksanaan forum di tempat yang jauh dari kota membuat peserta ”betah” dan dengan antusias mengikuti setiap sesi. Jika BSM 2008 dilaksanakan di Denpasar atau dekat Pantai Kuta, mungkin akan lain ceritanya :)

Setalah acara berfoto bersama, semua peserta kembali ke penginapan masing-masing atau bandara Ngurah Rai untuk bertolak ke tempat asalnya. Beberapa peserta langsung diantar dengan bus yang sudah disiapkan panitia. Ini adalah bentuk lain dari kinerja panitia yang perlu diapresiasi sekaligus, tentunya, sebagai konsekuensi pelaksanaan forum ilmiah di tempat terpencil :)

Sore menjelang malam, peserta meninggalkan Perancak yang sunyi untuk kembali melanjutkan rencana masing-masing. Ada yang bersiap-siap menghabiskan sisa liburan di Bali, ada yang malam itu juga bertolak ke tempat asalnya, ada juga yang menyempatkan diri mengunjungi kolega dan sanak saudara di berbagai tempat di Bali. Perancak pun kembali sepi. Sepi dari riuhnya peserta Bali Scientifik Meeting 2008 yang ilmiah sekaligus eksotik.

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Cameroon and Nigeria agree maritime border in Atlantic

Read here for English!

Sebuah berita baik seputar sengketa batas maritim berhenmbus dari Afrika. Nigeria dan Cameroon baru saja menyatakan kesepakatannya atas batas maritim antara ke dua negara di Atlantik yang kaya akan minyak.

Sengketa antara keduanya telah berlangsung sejak lama dan memerlukan waktu yang tidak sebentar untuk secara serius menyelesaikannya. Kesepakatan ini sekaligus sebagai bukti bahwa Cameroon dan Nigeria benar-benar bisa menyelesaikan sengketa dengan cara damai, tidak dengan kekerasan yang selama ini diprediksi banyak pihak.

Silahkan baca juga ini

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