SABANG | ACEH INFO – The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, inaugurated or groundbreaking the Integrated Marine and Fisheries Center (SKPT) Fishing Port in Gampong Ie Meulee, Sabang City, Monday, August 26, 2024.
The activity marked the start of port construction which is expected to strengthen the fisheries sector in Sabang.
The Governor of Aceh, Safrizal, ZA, said that the presence of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries was very important to revive the fisheries sector in Sabang.
Safrizal also said that the Aceh Government will make Sabang one of the priorities in fisheries development for 2025.
In addition, said the Acting Governor, the development of SKPT Ie Meulee is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy by improving fisheries infrastructure, as well as supporting the welfare of fishermen and surrounding communities.
Minister of KKP, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, said that the construction of SKPT Ie Meulee is an important capital in the development of outermost regions that have abundant marine and fisheries natural resources.
Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Inaugurates SKPT Development in Ie Meulee Sabang
“We hope this project supports the measured fishing program and improves the management of fisheries resources,” he said.
Trenggono revealed that in the future, his party will focus on strengthening fishermen in terms of production and infrastructure.
“We will strengthen the investment sector and the fisheries market here,” he said.
KKP even plans to provide assistance to fishermen, in the form of boats and fishing gear with a capacity above 30 GT, building cooperatives. He asked for support from the local government so that this assistance can be realized soon.
He added that investment in this sector will include infrastructure development, including fuel subsidies, fishing gear, and bringing markets to this area.
“We hope that within one year of this groundbreaking, the construction of the SKPT will be completed and begin to provide significant benefits to the fishing community and local economy,” he added.
The Minister emphasized the importance of five main cornerstones in fisheries management, namely the development of marine conservation space, measured fishing with quotas, the development of aquaculture such as tuna farming, the protection of small coastal islands and the participation of fishing communities in cleaning up plastic waste in the sea.
“With the support of the Aceh Government, Sabang City Government, Japanese Government, and JICA, we are confident that good management and synergy will help this area grow and develop significantly,” Trenggono said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Capture Fisheries of the Ministry of KKP, Lotharia Latif, said the construction of this project is part of a broader area-based development concept, funded by a grant from the Japanese Government.
The fishing port is designed to contribute significantly to local economic development. In the early stages, it is expected that the project will involve local labor, aiming to have a particularly positive impact on traditional fishermen in the area.
The development is expected to not only improve fisheries infrastructure but also support the local economy as a whole. Support from various parties is expected to accelerate the realization of the project and increase its benefits to the community.
Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Takeda Sachiko, said the construction of SKPT Ie Meule in Sabang is part of JICA’s support for the marine development program in Indonesia’s outer islands.
Sachiko explained that during a high-level meeting between the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of Japan, the two leaders agreed to continue the development of outer islands and strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Sabang was selected as one of six locations that will receive a grant for fisheries infrastructure development.
With this grant, the development of SKPT Ie Meule will include facilities such as docks, fishermen’s workshops, ice machines, as well as culinary and refueling centers. In addition, JICA will also provide technical support, including training for fishermen and assistance to local communities in processing fishery products.
This initiative is expected to bring great benefits to the local economy and improve the welfare of fishermen in Sabang, while strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and Japan in the marine sector.
Join Workshop Leads to Nine Recommendations for Handling Rohingya Refugees
Yayasan Kemanusiaan Madani Indonesia (YKMI) together with UNHCR and Aceh NGO Forum supported by Global Affairs Canada through Field Support Services Project (FSSP) with Local Development Initiatives (LDI) program, held a Join Workshop.
The Join Workshop themed “Policies and Handling of Rohingya Refugees in Aceh” took place at Kyriad Hotel, Banda Aceh, Monday, August 26, 2024.
The workshop focused on discussing legal and policy perspectives as well as protection and social integration for Rohingya refugees.
This workshop presented a number of speakers from various elements or stakeholders, namely the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Brigadier General Pol Adhi Satya Perkasa, UNHCR Indonesia’s Artro Protection Officer, Mrs. Emily Bojovic, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid,
Assistant I of Aceh Provincial Government, Yusrizal Zainal, Chairman of MPU Aceh, Tgk H Faisal Ali, Chairperson of Komnas Perempuan, Andy Yentriyani, YKMI Program Coordinator, Turmizi Ali, Unsiyah Academic, M Yakub Aiyub Kadir, and IOM, Panjitresna Prawiradiputra.
YKMI leader Ekfi Hasnita, when opening the event, emphasized the importance of understanding refugee issues with a balanced perspective.
“So far, there have been many hoaxes or hate speeches, especially on social media, which give an unbalanced picture of refugees. As fellow humans, especially as fellow Muslims, we should help and treat well the Rohingya refugees who are still being persecuted in their home country,” said Elfi.
Meanwhile, Yusrizal, before officially opening the workshop, highlighted the dependence of handling refugees in Aceh on central government policies and support from international agencies such as UNHCR and IOM.
“Through this workshop, we hope to find a solution to the Rohingya refugee problem, so that we do not lose hope (hopeless) in handling these refugees,” he said.
The workshop succeeded in producing several important recommendations that are expected to strengthen efforts to handle and protect Rohingya refugees in Aceh.
Here are the nine recommendations of Join Workshop:
1. Access and Essential Services: Shelters should be close to health, economic, and education services, and segregated between male and female refugees or families for comfort and safety.
2. Shelter Facilities: Shelters should have ample space, equipped with prayer rooms, family shelters, and child-friendly spaces.
3. Social Integration: The importance of social synchronization and integration between refugees and local communities in order to create harmony.
4. Counter Narrative Hate Speech: Need to strengthen counter narratives against hate speech and continuous education for community leaders to increase understanding of refugee issues and also the importance of the role of the media in this regard.
5. Inter-Agency Cooperation: Synchronization of work between humanitarian agencies needs to be improved with clear identification and work mechanisms.
6. Refugee Protection: The presence of government officials or law enforcement is needed to provide maximum protection for refugees.
7. Legality & Law: The need to evaluate and update Presidential Regulation No. 125 related to refugee handling is needed to regulate the authority, services and time of emergency response more clearly.
8. Effectiveness of the PPLN Task Force: It is expected that the PPLN Task Force (Handling of Overseas Refugees) can function properly in accordance with its duties and responsibilities.
9. Establishment of Village Task Force: The establishment of a village-level task force is very important for emergency handling when refugees first arrive.