Thirty Percent of Piracy in Indonesia
Thursday, 15 June, 2006 | 17:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has recorded that about 30 percent of total ship piracy has taken place in Indonesian waters.

“Indonesian waters are still categorized as the most dangerous in terms of maritime piracy and security,” said Widodo A.S., the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, during the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) meeting yesterday (14/6).

The IMB also recorded that Indonesia has been able to reduce the piracy rate from 94 cases in 2004 to 79 cases in 2005.

In the Malacca Strait, the piracy rate was cut back from 38 cases in 2004 to 12 cases in 2005.

Another matter is illegal fishing.

Indonesia losses 1 million to 1.5 million tons of fish per year, causing the state to suffer losses of US$1 trillion.

In addition to piracy, Widodo said, there is a tendency to make use of Indonesian waters for the activities of transnational crime, terrorism, and separatist movements.

The activities not only create losses for Indonesia, but also for the international community.

Widodo acknowledged that it is not easy to guard the Indonesian waters which measures some 5.8 million square kilometers with coastlines of 80,791 kilometers.

The government will continue on improving security in trade routes and maritime borders as well as the Marine Security Coordinating Board.

Oktamandjaya, Dian and Rieka