Ever hear of a government plan to empower the country's uninhabited islands by leasing them out to investors for development? The idea, broached in 1999 by then Exploration & Fisheries Minister, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, triggered a controversy. Was it because the idea was not well socialized or was it a premature idea, given that Indonesians were still preoccupied with reformasi? The idea seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

Many were opposed to the idea. The government is unable to empower the poor, let alone do something about the islands, claim the critics. Now, four years after reformasi, the idea has resurfaced.

It all began with newspaper reports of a plan by the government to lease out Pulau Tinjil and Pulau Deli for oil storage. Muhrin Hakim, chairman of the Middle East Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Kadin), told reporters after a meeting with Vice President Hamzah Haz early this month that Iran, Kuwait, and Oman were interested. What were Hamzah's reactions? "He only nodded his head. So we thought it was OK," said Hamzah's staff assistant La Ode Kamaluddin.

Ecologists at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) were shocked. Both islands, they say, have been declared wildlife breeding areas. A research center has been set up by IPB on one of the islands. "But the government seems overly eager with the plan," says Agus Lelana, head of IPB's alumni relations and promotion. Lelana deplored the plan, charging it would disrupt a conservation program begun a decade ago.

According to Sarwono, the original plan was to lease out the islands on a joint operation basis without harming the interests of the local population and the environment. Two weeks ago a team set up by Minister for Fisheries & Maritime Affairs, Rokhmin Dahuri, announced the completion of a proposal for a program to develop Indonesia's outer islands under the supervision of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti.

Alex Retraubun, Director for Empowerment of Small Islands, says the program aimed at developing 88 small islands in the border areas, mostly in Riau with 20 islands and Maluku with 16 islands. "The Department of Fishery and Maritime Affairs will act as a coordinator to push for commitment by other departments to pay attention to the development of the islands," he says.

According to Alex, the program followed the bitter experience when Indonesia lost Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia. For years Indonesia and Malaysia had been locked in a dispute over ownership of the islands. The International Court to which the two countries submitted their dispute ruled in favor of Malaysia.

The court based its decision on evidence of effective occupation by Malaysia of the two islands. Three aspects were required for a claim of ownership—continuous presence, effective occupation and ecological maintenance and preservation. Malaysia met all three criteria.

The government realized that it has been neglectful as far as the country's border islands were concerned. "Many local officials don't even know by heart the names of the islands under their administration, let alone visiting them," says Sarwono, who is now an advisor to the Indonesian Maritime Council.

As a result, many of the islands feel closer to the "neighbors" than to their "own mother." On Pulau Miangas in North Sulawesi, for instance, the locals speak fluent Tagalog, the language of the Philippines, and interact closely with their neighbors to the north. If not watchful, Indonesia might lose again in any future dispute over ownership of islands in the area.

According to Alex, the status of the 88 islands planned for development won't be determined haphazardly. The first step is to determine the basic points. Some of the 183 basic points used as a reference are located on the small islands. "The islands serve as a point to measure the borders with islands of the neighboring countries. They will be islands closest to the neighboring countries," says Alex.

Many of the border islands are strategically located. If the islands are developed, Indonesia's sovereignty will be strengthened with a positive effect on economic development in the area. Unfortunately, most of the islands are not easily accessible. Only 50 percent are inhabited by man. The rest consist of rocky islands. "If they are inhabited, most of the residents live in poverty," says Alex, a native of Pulau Kei.

Plans are afoot for a series of activities to stimulate economic development. A field survey and island identification will begin in 2004, followed thereafter through 2008 with the development of fishery and marine tourism, construction of defense installations, roads and bridges to turn the islands into stopover points. In the long term, through 2014, the government will also build ports, oil refineries and conservation areas.

Initial funding for the program is estimated at Rp100 billion. Alex says the amount will not be a burden on the state budget. "Moreover," he adds, "the government will also invite investors into the program." Fishermen are encouraged to operate in the area. Many of the islands have even been designated as sites to which the fishermen will be relocated.

An example where a serious study has been made in the development of the islands is Pulau Tinjil. The 600-hectare island used to be a wood producing area. But since 1970, Perum Perhutani (State-Owned Forestry Company), which owned the island, has stopped activities. In 1983, the state-owned company, IPB and the Department of the Environment jointly operated a non-wood program on Tinjil.

In 1998, following an environment study and the transformation of the island into a wildlife breeding area, Tinjil was left in the management of the Center for Primate Research and Study of the IPB. Initially, some 520 long-tailed monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were brought in from Lampung, Palembang, and West Java for breeding on the islands.

No one is allowed to enter the island without a permit. "The measure is taken in order to protect the animals from viruses which might be carried by visitors from outside," says Tito Sutristianto, the person in charge of Tinjil.

Located in a remote area, Tinjil has grown into a beautiful marine park. On land, many animal species, including monitor lizards, pythons, monkeys and birds of all kinds, thrive. With such biodiversity, the island has also been a site for research for an AIDS vaccine. A similar situation is developing on Pulau Deli, which is operated by a private group.

Why then lease out the island for oil storage? According to La Ode Kamaluddin, Hamzah was told the idea originated from the Department of Fisheries & Maritime Affairs. But Alex refuted the claim. "We never proposed the islands to be used for oil storage," he said. Moreover, he added, Pulau Tinjil was not included in the program for development of the small islands. As to Pulau Deli, Alex said the island is located outside the basic points.

Alex was opposed to the idea of turning the islands into an oil storage area. "Don't disturb the environment. It's a very sensitive matter," he says. Alex's fears are understandable as an oil storage area has the potential to pollute the waters. Esa, a 35-year-old resident of Desa Muara Binuagen, was opposed too. "Not only the fish then will disappear from the waters, the island will also cease to be a place we go to to find refuge in a storm. We don't want the waters to be contaminated by oil," he said.

Tridoyo Kusumantanto, professor of marine economics at IPB, warned the government against making a hasty decision without a thorough study of the problem. "We must carefully calculate the margin of profits to be gained compared with the damage done to the ecosystem," he says. Just because of a few dollars gained, the ecosystem is damaged beyond repair.

Dara Meutia Uning, Faidil Akbar (Pulau Tinjil)