Indonesian govt to secure ownership of 111 border islets

JAKARTA - THE INDONESIAN government is expediting the finalisation of the land registration of 111 small islands in border areas as part of its efforts to defend national sovereignty in outer areas as well as strengthening the country’s defence and security.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Tuesday the registration was also aimed at preventing private entities, whether domestic or foreign, from illegally controlling and managing the islands.
“[Because these islands] are in border areas, proper management of them is essential in upholding state sovereignty,” she told a press conference.
The 111 islets are in the registration process at the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry, after which the islands will be solely owned by the state.
She said Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo would soon issue a presidential decree as a legal umbrella for the move.
As many as 14,343 small islands, or 98 per cent, of the total identified islands across Indonesia were problematic when it came to land management or ownership status.
Among the numerous issues are the illicit sale of islands to foreigners, private occupation by investors, the use of nominees to secure occupation and ownership claims by foreign entities.
The ministry has also launched an investigation into hundreds of islets allegedly illicitly occupied by local and foreign investors.
Susi said small islands had |the potential to be developed through numerous forms of investment, such as agriculture, tourism and industry, but asserted that management of small islands had to be conducted based on the 1960 Agrarian Law.
Under the law, private entities can occupy no more than 70 per cent of the total area of a small island through a right-to-own certificate (SHM), while the remaining 30 per cent goes to the government, which will use it for creating either protected areas or public areas.
Meanwhile, the Agrarian Law bars foreigners from owning a SHM – the fullest land title that can be owned in Indonesia – but allows them to own either right-to-use, right-to-rent, right-to-build or right-to-cultivate certificates.