Almost five years after becoming part of Southwest Maluku (MBD) district since 2008, these islands have yet to enjoy a significant development.
Even the abundant resources have not been exploited for the welfare of local community, and for the improvement of transportation and road networks on these four islands.
Therefore, these southernmost islands have been proposed to the House of Representatives in order to be approved as a new autonomous region to split from MBD district, according to the Southernmost Islands People Alliance (ARKT) chairman Alex Dadiara.
"We submitted the proposal on the formation of the Southernmost Islands District the House of Representatives` Commission II (overseeing domestic governance and regional autonomy) and Home Affairs Ministry through the Directorate General of Regional Autonomy on March 13, 2013," Dadiara said here on Monday.
He noted that the southernmost islands are made up of Romang, Kisar, Wetar, and Lirang with seven sub-districts.
Dadiara said these four islands wanted to split from Southwest Maluku District to have their own regional administration and therefore the proposal has been submitted to the House Commission II.
According to him, the House Commission II positively welcomed the proposal and registered as a prospective new district to split from MBD.
He expressed hope that the House of Representatives and the central government would soon establish the new autonomous district of the Southernmost Islands.
On February 15, 2013, all public elements grouped in the Southernmost Islands People Alliance (ARKT) declared the expansion of the Southernmost Islands District in Wonreli, Kisar island.
"With our sublime desire, we pledge to continue to fight for the realization of a special autonomy for the Southernmost Islands as the front line of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI)," they said in the declaration.
The Southernmost Islands directly adjacent to Timor Leste, the country which had been part of Indonesia for 23 years before it gained its sovereignty in 2002 following a UN-sponsored referendum.
Asked why the expansion of Southwest Maluku District was necessary, Dadira said it had something to do with border issue, outlying region, and integrity of NKRI.
"Romang, Kisar, Wetar, and Lirang are the outlying islands at the border of Timor Leste, and therefore they deserve a new autonomy in an effort to maintain the integrity of the unitary state of Indonesia," Dadiara noted.
Meanwhile, ARKT secretary Hendrik Rupilu said these four islands are in the front line of NKRI and that they deserve special attention from the central government.
"Serious attention from the central government must be given to these four islands in terms of development to shorten the span of government control," Rupilu said.
He noted that when the House endorses the Southernmost Islands as a new autonomous district, it is expected to be a solution to optimize public service and to enable government control to be more effective and efficient.
"To be effective, concrete action is needed from the government in extending its clout over vulnerable border regions to keep them safe from annexation and smuggling efforts," Rupilu said.
He added that these four islands are at strategic geographical location so they can be developed into a national force to counter any threats to the country.
"Therefore the struggle to gain a new autonomy must go on, and that all people of the Southernmost Islands should strive together to achieve it," he noted.
Rupilu admitted that the region is rich in mineral, natural and marine resources but many sub-districts and rural areas remain displaced because of lack of attention from central, provincial, and district governments.
According to Almeida Petrusz, a Southernmost Islands community figure, the islands of Romang and Wetar actually have abundant mineral resources of gold, copper, ferruginous sand, natural gas, white gold, in addition to forest resources such as rattan, clove, nutmeg, and sandalwood.
"But these resources have yet to exploit optimally for the prosperity of local community," Almeida said.
Besides, he pointed out that poor infrastructure is still a big issue that must be overcome as soon as possible in order not to hinder the pace of regional development.
"The problem of poor transportation facilities and infrastructure in the islands of Romang, Kisar, Wetar, and Lirang merits government attention in order to shorten the span of control and to increase accessibility and mobilization of people and goods.
Almeida admitted that land transportation facilities of roads and bridges were far from sufficient in these four islands while the air transportation, even with the presence of the Purpura airport on Kisar Island, was still inadequate to accommodate the ever-increasing demand.
With the population dispersed thinly across the islands, he said that the cost of providing transportation, infrastructure and social services to the local population was high.
These costs rise even more markedly on the islands of Wetar and Lirang, severely limiting the range of economic activities available to the local communities.
"In light of this, the Southernmost Islands people`s aspiration to demand a new autonomy is in line with the objective of the Unitary State of Indonesian Republic to step up the welfare of its people," Almeida said.
He added that viewed from various aspects, the Southernmost Islands in Southwest Maluku district meet the criteria to be developed into a new district. (*)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
