Observer Supports Moeldoko's Stance on Light House Issue

Depok, W Java (Antara) - International law professor Hikmahanto Juwono has expressed support to Defense Forces (TNI) Commander General Moeldoko's stance over the issue of illegal light house construction by Malaysia in Tanjung Datu, West Kalimantan. "If Malaysia plans to build a light house on the Indonesian continental shelf, it is obliged to ask for a permit from Indonesia," he said in response to the issue here on Sunday. General Moeldoko has produced a strong statement with regard to Malaysia's action, calling for the demolition of the project or facing demolition by TNI. Hikmahanto from prestigious state Indonesia University said the commander's statement was made based on the continental shelf agreement made by Indonesia and Malaysia in 1969 and the Sea Law Convention in 1982 which both Indonesia and Malaysia had ratified. "Based on Article 80 of the 1082 Sea Law Convention it is firmly stated that a country that has a sovereign right over a continental shelf has an exclusive right to build and to have an authority to regulate any installation built over it," he said. Hikmahanto said Malaysia seemed attempting to postpone and buy time with regard to the demolition. Malaysia seemed to persist and hoped the Indonesian government would forget it and in turn ignore it, he said. Moeldoko's ultimatum, which in essence calls for the demolition of the project, is legitimate based on Article 80 of the 1982 Sea Law Convention. "It is impossible for Malaysia to protest and object to demolition by Indonesia because the pile foundation is on the Indonesian continental shelf," he said. If the Indonesian authorities now asked Malaysia to willingly demolish the foundation it was done for maintaining good relations and ASEAN solidarity, he said. Hikmahanto however said that Indonesia certainly would not let its good gesture to be misused by Malaysia. (*)