Jokowi Deems Boat Sinking as Showcasing Indonesia Law Enforcement

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The ongoing conflicting arguments between two Indonesian State Ministers regarding the sinking of illegal fishing boats has finally made President Joko Widodo or Jokowi voice his opinion.

The two Ministers are Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti. Luhut previously asked Susi to stop enacting the boat sinking punishment
for 2018.

Read also: World Applauds Susi`s Boat Sinking Strategy

President Jokowi said that each and every policy is always intended for the people’s welfare. “Every Minister must have a policy and that policy is always for the greater good of the people,” said Jokowi during the national coordination meeting for the Agriculture and Spatial Planning Ministry on Wednesday, January 10.

He continued to say that the boat sinking is the country’s attempt to showcase a form of law enforcement. That we are not treating illegal fishing lightly, which is why sinking [illegal fishing boats] is the most intimidating deterrent effect.”

Read: Policy of Sinking Illegal Fishing Boats Comes to an End: VP Kalla

Minister Luhut’s original request to Minister Susi was because he considered that the world now already knows that Indonesia is taking a firm stance against illegal fishing and that the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry should focus on attempts to fix the production and exports of fish that is currently declining.

The following day, Susi Pudjiastuti voiced her opinion towards Luhut’s suggestion through her personal Twitter account and a Youtube video uploaded by the Ministry’s official channel. She reasoned that she is merely complying with the Law.

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