The statement came as the agency was handed a new role as stipulated in Government Regulation (PP) No. 13/2022 that is aimed at improving inter-institutional coordination among various government stakeholders on maritime security and safety.

It mandates Bakamla to lead maritime law enforcement operations and to act as official government representative in international forums on maritime security. The regulation, signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on March 11, also empowers Bakamla to coordinate with other stakeholders in investigating law violations at sea.

“Bakamla stands ready to carry out the government’s policy [as outlined in the recently released regulation],” said Aan in a press conference on Friday.

Aan also said that the agency was prepared to take a coordinating role in the maritime security sector in the country, while also expressing the hope that Bakamla would have integrated functions similar to the coast guards of developed nations.

Read also: Jokowi wants Bakamla upgraded to Indonesian coast guard as new chief sworn in

Bakamla was established in 2014 to boost the effectiveness of law enforcement at sea and was designed to become the country’s coast guard with its own armed vessels. The agency, however, has yet to fulfil the role as other institutions, including the Navy, already have authority over national waters and the vessels to enforce it.

Besides the Navy, the Transportation Ministry runs the Coast and Sea Guard (KPLP) and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry also has its own division, as does the Customs and Excise Agency and the National Police has its Water and Air branches. Many provincial administrations also run their own coast guard patrols. This often causes confusion because of overlapping operations.

The recent regulation was issued as a short-term solution to integrate maritime security and law enforcement operations in waters under Indonesian jurisdiction, the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Minister said in a statement. In the long run, the government plans to revise the 2014 Maritime Law to give Bakamla a stronger mandate as Indonesia’s coast guard institution.

Read also: Indonesia's Bakamla to command security of Natuna waters

Aan said Bakamla was prepared to follow the government’s policy on maritime security, adding that the agency had been regularly in talks with relevant stakeholders.

Also on Friday, Bakamla announced that it had seized what it suspected to be a foreign-made firearm in an abandoned unanchored vessel in Ambon Bay, Maluku.

Aan said a six-man team was dispatched to inspect the unflagged vessel on March 23 and found a bag containing a homemade gun and two rounds of ammunition. He added that the operation was a follow-on from the previous discovery of an Austin Ranger .45 pistol with six rounds in January in waters off Manado, North Sulawesi.

The operations, Aan said, were carried out after Bakamla received information about suspected arms smuggling in those areas, adding that the agency was also in close contact with the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) in investigating the case. (mrc)

Popular

Violent crackdown on protests turns deadly

Pramono cancels WFH for civil servants as Jakarta stabilizes

Indonesian economy suffers heavy losses from riots