Ririe Ranggasari, Jakarta – Indonesian coastal communities staged a protest in front of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) building in Central Jakarta on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Their rally is a reaction to Joko Widodo's government's decision to reopen the export of sea sand after a 20-year ban.
The regulation of sea sand export was signed by Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas by ratifying Trade Minister Regulation No. 21/2024 on the Second Amendment to Trade Minister Regulation No. 23/2023 on Export Policy and Regulation.
The people are protesting against the regulation, which they see as selling Indonesia's sovereignty to other countries.
Susan Herawati, secretary general of the People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA), criticized the KKP for allowing sea sand mining to resume. She said that the statement by KKP ministry spokesman Wahyu Muryadi regarding the continuation of sea sand mining only showed that the government does not stand with coastal communities and fishermen.
"If the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries still wants to continue dredging sea sand sediments, it actually clearly shows how capitalist this country is, especially its politicians," Susan told Tempo when contacted Sunday, September 29.
Susan said that the statement of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on the resumption of sea sand exports only represents the interests of investors, "not the interests of the people".
Susan also strongly criticized the government for being arbitrary in its policies. She said that government regulations should have been made to represent the people affected by sea sand mining.
"Because if [the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries] really serves as a big boat for fishermen, they should have listened to their fellow fishermen. Things will be very difficult if this policy continues to be implemented like this," Susan said.
She asked the ministry to be honest with the public about the actors behind the resumption of sea sand exports. Susan said that the Ministry, as a government agency, is not acting at the behest of the people.
"Maybe the KKP should start being honest about whose order this is. Why is it so eager to do this, so much so that it would not listen to us," she said.
– Petir Garda B