TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) maintains their coordination with Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenkopolhukam) in order to strengthen surveillance over Indonesian waters, especially the currently contested Natuna.

"We maintain our coordination with Kemenkopolhukam. We have received instructions yesterday, today we will strengthen [surveillance]. This involves all the ministries, KKP will continue to operate within its capacity. Whatever is instructed to us, we will carry out," said Edhy Prabowo, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, after attending the ministry financial report examination by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) preliminary meeting, in Jakarta on Monday, January 6, 2020.

He ensured that the surveillance of Natuna will be done continuously by the government, including the involvement of The Illegal Fishing Eradication Task Force (Satgas 115). "As Satgas 115 is our means of carrying out our task from the president, this will continue; this is one of our ways to improve strength," said Edhy.

Edhy Prabowo further added that the protection of Indonesia's sovereignty is the main objective. However, Indonesia must remain unprovoked by any efforts done by external parties in disturbing or claiming Indonesian territory. "We must not be goaded or provoked, we need to keep cool. How we treat this; sovereignty is everything. In terms of surveillance, we will continue to deploy our teams. We already have our own mechanism and rules," he said.

In the interest of guarding Indonesia's maritime territory, a part of which is Natuna Waters, in Riau Islands, The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries must remain selective, as according to Edhy. In conducting their investigation, the ministry must take into context the large amount of ships traversing across the Natuna waters, as well as the fact that not only fishing boats pass by the area, as transport and trade ships does as well.

"If it is a fishing boat, we would confiscate them. We have confiscated three [fishing boats in Natuna] yesterday, and transported them to Pontianak. I was supposed to be there today to welcome our crew who have managed to apprehend the three ships, as there was very fierce resistance," said Edhy on Monday, Januaty 6, 2020.

ANTARA