Starts with Silent May 2023, Exciting January 2025

JAKARTA - The Tangerang sea fence began construction in early May 2023. The pattern of work started from the border area of Tangerang Regency with Serang Regency. Precisely in Tanara Village, Tanara District, Serang Regency. Everything started quietly!

According to one of the residents of Tanara Village, initially the work was offered by the former village head. However, before the construction of the sea fence, the village community had wanted to hold a demonstration in mid-May 2023. This is because some of the village communities, which mostly work as fishermen, feel a loss because diesel needs to go to sea.

However, the demonstration related to the construction of the sea fence was heard by the former village head. And he tried to persuade residents to cancel the action by offering compensation in the form of money worth IDR 25 million.

"I don't want to mention his name for safety. I am a villager but are willing to provide proof of payment receipts given by the former village head. In the receipt there is a name." said a VOI source.

The source said he also helped build the bamboo fence at sea. According to him, the payment for workers is regulated by the former village head on a wholesale basis. And those who worked on it could reach 50 people. The workers do not know who the companies are using their power.

"At that time, yes, because the salary per day was Rp. 35 thousand for one person. We don't know who the company is because it has been regulated by the former village head. We only work. 1 meter consists of three to four bamboo with a depth of 3o meters," he told VOI.

The work on the construction of a sea fence in Tanara village is the second wave. Where the workers were taken from the village community. The developer asked the village head to direct and seduce the local community to participate in building the sea fence.

Another resident of Tanara Village, Mahesa, said that residents' reluctance to reveal the name of the former village head was due to the excitement of the news of the sea fence in Tangerang. "They don't want to get involved in legal matters, please understand," he told VOI.

Another worker named Budi (the pseudonym) admitted that he had started working to install fences since Marga Mulya Village, Mauk District, Banten. Budi emphasized that while working on the fence, there were many people divided into 5 groups. Each group leader is taken from residents adjacent to Marga Mulya Village.

"Each leader of the group gives the task to its members every day to do anything. Its task consists of installing bamboo according to the coordinates given, some installing bales, and some install propellers. The target in a week must be 200 meters completed," Budi told VOI, Monday, January 20.

Fishermen's representatives in Tangerang have diverse views on the direct impact of the presence of marine fences in their area. Kholid, a fisherman from Serang, complained that the sea fence from the fuel side to sea had increased, because they had to turn in search of fish. In addition, the bamboo milestone installed also endangers fishing boats. The damage to the boat was allegedly caused by the propeller installed near the bamboo milestone due to sea waves.

"If you already know how to violate why not revoke it? He asked for law enforcement. Residents who pick trees in the protected forest are immediately punished, they still have to wait 20 days. It's clear how come they haven't been prosecuted." he told VOI, Monday, January 21.

In contrast to representatives from the Pantura People's Network (JRP), Tarsin admitted that he did not feel disturbed by the existence of a bamboo fence. we carry out ordinary activities. In fact, they admitted that the sea fence was built independently by the community to increase income through green shell cultivation and serve as a wave solver to prevent abrasion. He added that the fence also acts as a marker of shallow water boundaries for the local community.

Secretary General of the People's Coalition for Justice (Kiara) Susan Herawati, who has examined the complaints of fishermen in the area, said that the existence of a fence from bamboo clearly harms the fishing group. Because they must have additional diesel, because they have to turn around to find a way out, there is more to be added. There may not be any loss, the bamboo is filled with sand. "We have already reported the sea in the market to the (Ministry of Marine Affairs of Fisheries (KKP)," said Kiara Secretary-General Susan Herawati.

However, it is not clear that the party dared to admit the ownership of the sea fence. A number of parties did not dare to openly admit it. Dozens of bamboo were taken down from five trucks in the Kronjo area. They built and planted a fence at night. But the fishermen there are not clear about the use of the bamboo, the community since August 2024 had complained about the construction of the fences to the KKP but until it was crowded did not get clarity. Who is the responsible party. Until the news was made a fuss by the public.

Walhi Reveals Sea Fence Connected To Reclamation Plan

However, the statement of fishermen from JRP seems to be just an alibi and denied by the Deputy for External National Executives of WALHI, Mukri Friatna. According to him, that reason makes it up. There is no theory of breaking waves with bamboo, people know that if you want to break the waves with the mangroves, waru and Ketapang plants. for a long time it will protect the tsunami. So he believes that the statement from JRP is confirmed to be invalid, he suspects that JRP people are part of the capital owners who fund them.

Mukri firmly pointed out that this sea fence could be concluded that the final destination was related to the reclamation business. The conclusion is based on the findings of 6 documents he obtained in the form of documents and maps. The document documents include the Spatial Planning document No. 13 of 2011 to 2031. Regarding the strategic plan for the Coastal Spatial Planning area, the Long-Term Plan Adjustment document, the Spatial Adjustment for 2025-2055.

"This is a motive for reclamation. We can be sure, our source gets from 6 document sources." said Mukri when contacted by Voi, January 19. Mukri further added the function of installing the fence as a marker of the reclamation area boundary. And it will be dropped.

Regulation of spatial planning N0 13, concerning the spatial planning of the Tangerang Regency in 2011, strategic plans for the Coastal Spatial Planning area, Long-Term Plan Adjustment Documents, for 2025-2055. So it is certain that this marine fence is the initial plan to make a sea area annexation, whose motive is for the Reclamation business. The promotion was planned by the miner from PIK2. So emphasized by Mukri this collaboration between Entrepreneurs/capital owners with the Government.

The starting point was the reclamation case from a strategic map that had been rejected by Walhi, apparently appeared again. The reclamation is planned to be a zoning 7. Map of designation strategy plan for 4 designations; for settlements, ports, industries. "In the land that is fenced there is a marine area that has been reported to have a rights base and is burdened with the form of HGB." he said.

Public policy observer Trubus Rahadiansyah assesses the presence of sea fences on the coast of Tangerang (Banten), Bekasi (West Java) to North Jakarta, reflecting weak supervision, both from the central government, especially the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and local governments.

"These hashtags have been built since the era of the previous government and are allowed to develop. Some of these fences arise due to fear of canceling permits," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, January 18.

The existence of the sea fence, he continued, clearly harms the fishermen operating around the area. On the other hand, Trubus also highlighted the damage to the coral reef ecosystem which is the place of life for fish due to the construction of the bamboo fence.