Banda Aceh – The House of Regional Representatives of Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) at Syiah Kuala University (USK) to manage the state border areas for the community welfare and national security. The event was opened by Dr. Nono Sampono, M.Si, the Vice Chairman I of DPD RI in the VIP Room of AAC Dayan Dawood, Banda Aceh, Monday (28/3).
Nono Sampono explained, due to the number of the prevailing issues in the border areas such as the low level of well-being and crime-prone environment, thus, the event is a joint effort to develop the border area and to strengthen the national defence.
The issue in emphasizing the importance of law enforcement and safeguarding the security of Indonesian waters was also raised by Nono Sampono. One of which is to establish a coast guard institution to protect the Indonesian waters.
“Every country has its coast guard, except for three countries namely Timor Leste, Brunei and Indonesia–whereas Indonesia is a country with broad waters. At this point, we will carry out a limited revision of the Maritime Law,” said Nono.
Furthermore, Nono Sampono conveyed the concept of securing and supervising the activities on the Indonesian continent.
According to him, Indonesia with its national interests having sovereign rights over the continental shelf, therefore, it requires basic implementation of regulation following Indonesia’s national interests at sea.
There is an urgency for the amendment of the previous law to strengthen the legal basis and provide legal certainty in addressing claims on the continental shelf above 200 nautical miles, exercising the sovereign rights to explore and/or exploiting natural resources on the continental shelf, to negotiate and settle down the boundaries of Indonesia’s continental shelf with neighboring countries.
“DPD RI urges the DPR RI to finalize this bill into account, so other countries would acknowledge our rights of the sea,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Committee I DPD RI H. Fachrul Razi, M.I.P asked the government to pay more attention to the border area as one of the important aspects in upholding defense-security in terms of state sovereignty.
Because complex problems often occur in the border areas that affect the economic, social, cultural, political, defense and security life.
“Border areas are often found to remain isolated, being abandoned with minimal infrastructure and weak supervision. Therefore, adequate management and supervision are required,” said Fachrul Razi.
Fachrul also supported to enhancing synergy between the DPD RI and the government to find solutions toward various issues related to defense and security in all regions of Indonesia.
“An organized management system is needed at the center and in the regions of border areas, also an elaboration of the security and welfare.
Agussabati, M.Si said that the government to pay extra attention to the border areas. Because, notably, the welfare level of residents in border areas is relatively lower than those living in non-border areas.
In addition, despite the government’s extra attention, people living in border areas will psychologically feel closer to the neighboring countries.
At this point, Agussabati assessed that this FGD was very important to find the right policy in building communities at the border.
“Insyaallah, the USK will address total concern and new scientific findings related to our efforts in building the border areas,” he said.
On the other hand, Aceh Governor’s Expert Staff, Ir. Iskandar said that the Aceh Regional Government welcomes the implementation of this activity.
Considering that Aceh is geographically located at the western tip of Indonesia, and is directly adjacent to neighboring countries. This condition surely required full attention for the realization of public welfare.
In this discussion, USK through the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Indonesia, regarding the master’s program on national resilience, it was also agreed to establish a Center for the Study of Border Area Development at USK.
Attending the event, The Vice Chancellor II of USK as a speaker in this activity, Chairman of Committee I DPD RI H. Fachrul Razi, M.I.P, Deputy I BNPP Drs. Robert Simbolon, MPA, Director of Strategy for the Indonesian National Security Agency Laksma Bakamla Andi Abdul Aziz, S.H., M.M, Professional Staff of the Indonesian National Defense Institute for SKA and National Resilience Prof. Dr. Ir. Dadan Umar Daihani, D.E.A., and Director of the School of Statejik and Global Studies at the University of Indonesia Athor Subroto, S.E., M.M., M.Sc., Ph.D.
