Fadli, Batam – Sand continues to be smuggled from Indonesia to Singapore despite a recent crackdown, Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Sutarman said in Batam on Friday.
Sutarman discussed the issue with the acting head of the Sea Security Coordinating Agency, Vice Adm. Djoko Sumaryono, during a ceremony in Batam.
"As I was returning home from Johor, Malaysia, by ferry on Thursday, I saw for myself at least 10 barges flying Indonesian flags filled with sand and granite heading toward a reclamation project in Singapore. Sand smuggling is apparently still going on. We urge the central government, through the agency, to deal with the problem because the police do not have the necessary resources," said Sutarman.
Riau Islands Police will begin posting officers at every sand quarry in the province next week in an effort to curb the smuggling. "They will monitor where the sand is being sent, whether it's for Indonesia's purpose or is being smuggled out of the country," said Sutarman.
Police will also monitor sand exporters, to stop them from shipping sand to other provinces before rerouting the shipments to Singapore. "We will also inspect every shipment of granite which might just be a camouflage to carry sand," said Sutarman.
Djoko said his office would follow up on the report of the illegal sand shipments to Singapore. The Trade Ministry issued a ban on exports of coastal sand, earth and top soil on Jan. 22. The ban came into effect on Feb. 6.
"We urge related agencies in the provinces authorized to secure the sea to be firm and cooperate in curbing this problem, because we cannot do the work alone," said Djoko.
Djoko accused Singapore of not treating Indonesia fairly when it came to the issue of sand exports. He said that prior to the ban, Singapore was only paying S$5 per cubic meter of sand. After the Indonesian government issued the ban, Singapore raised the price to S$16 per cubic meter.
"Singapore is now offering to pay S$31 for each cubic meter, while it buys sand from China for S$48 per cubic meter. This is just an example of how Singapore treats us. Our job is to raise awareness to prevent Indonesia's natural wealth, including sand, from being smuggled out of the country," said Djoko.
Djoko said his agency was officially launched on Dec. 29, 2006, by Coordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs Widodo AS, who also acts as agency head. It was set up based on a 2005 presidential decree on sea security.
The agency coordinates with 12 state institutions involved in securing the sea, including the Navy, water, air and port police, and customs office. It will set up five territorial offices in the provinces to facilitate operations, including one in Batam, Riau Islands.
The head of the agency's Sea Security Policy Preparation Center, police Brig. Gen. E.H. Allagan, said the agency would lease four satellites at a price of US$96,000 per year to monitor activity in the country's waters.
These satellites will be able to monitor activity at various ports, as well as sea traffic in the country. The agency will also be able to use the satellites to check on cargo carried by ships passing through Indonesian waters.
"The operational costs will be covered by the state budget, and it is being discussed by the government now. The satellites are urgent, keeping in mind that a great deal of our country's natural wealth has been stolen and smuggled overseas. And don't try to collaborate with smugglers, because we know what you are doing," said Allagan.