Kesbangpol: Larilarian Island a Potential Conflict

By Syamsuddin Hasan

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - Head of the South Kalimantan National and Political Unity (Kesbangpol), Hermansyah Manap said, the issue of Larilarian Island in Kotabaru District, is potential conflict, if not yet fully resolved.

"Therefore, together with related parties , we will completely resolve the issue of Larilarian Island, Kotabaru, which by the citizens of West Sulawesi called Lereklerekang Island, and claimed to be their territory, " he said here on Tuesday.

According to him, in fact , both legal (juridical) and the fact (de facto), as the decision of the Supreme Court (MA) of the Republic of Indonesia in 2012, the status Larilarian Island bordering the Sulawesi Sea and the Makassar Strait does not matter anymore. 

The Supreme Court's decision has canceled the Home Affairs Minister Act No. 43 of 2011 which stated Island Lereklerekang incoming administrative area Majene , West Sulawesi (Sulbar).

But later, he said, Sulbar asking for a fatwa MA linked the disputed islands, because they assess MA decision in 2012 did not mention the island is in Kotabaru area, South Kalimantan.

"Actually, it was basically MA verdict restore the disputed islands to its original territory, namely South Kalimantan or Kotabaru district, because based on history and a map of the Earth, called the Island Larilarian or Lereklerekang Island (latitude and longitude for the same position) is located in South Kalimantan region," said the former Head of Public Relations of the Government of South Kalimantan.

He said, to finalize the settlement, a team already established, and soon met the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta. "We do not want it lead to conflict the event of 2014 election, because the issues are not resolved completely , " said Hermansyah Manap.