The Presence Of IMIP Airport Highlighted By The Public, The Government Is Reminded To Maintain State Sovereignty

Photo archives - A number of passengers walked to the arrival terminal upon arrival at Morowali Airport, Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, Thursday (1/8/2024). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Basri Marzuki/YU

JAKARTA - Legal and political observer Pieter C. Zulkifli also highlighted the polemic about the existence of an airport in the nickel industrial area of PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), Morowali, Central Sulawesi.

According to him, the existence of the airport is considered odd because it is busy managing aircraft traffic but outside of state knowledge.

"This phenomenon is not as the sovereignty that was stolen, but just released. Sovereignty does not collapse by pressure, but by the courage to remain silent," said Pieter C. Zulkifli, Thursday, November 27.

Pieter described the situation as an irony because the entrance to people and goods continued to work without state control, while the government was still struggling with clarification and coordination meetings.

The former chairman of Commission III of the DPR also reminded that if the state only dares to attend through a discourse, then don't be surprised if one day the republic must ask permission to enter its own territory.

"IMIP Airport operates without state control. Sovereignty is absent, corporations are in power, as if the republic is only a guest on its own territory," said Pieter.

Pieter assessed that state sovereignty is not only measured by the ability to manage land and sea areas, but air space is also a public jurisdiction that can only be managed by the state.

"In Morowali, this principle is at stake. The international airport built in the nickel industrial area of PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) operates, but the state is actually present as spectators, not authorities," he said.

"The physical building stands majestic. The downstream aircraft transports the company's workforce and guests but the aviation administration is not fully under state control. The public spotlight peaks: how can an airport grow and operate, but the presence of the country is vague? The airport is actually not an illegal facility," he continued.

Pieter said this airport was officially registered at the Ministry of Transportation with the code ICAO WAMP and IATA MWS, had a non-class domestic airport status, and was under the supervision of the Makassar Region V Airport Authority. On paper, he said, everything seemed legitimate.

"However, in the field, the state is not visible. There are no traces of airport authorities, no visible security, immigration, or customs officers. Access is even closed tightly, as if a public infrastructure has turned into a private area," he said.

In this context, Pieter Zulkifli continued, the phrase circulating in the community is very relevant for serious attention. He called the IMIP airport perceived as an airport that stands and operates without state control.

"What's wrong? Who allows it? If this is a violation of sovereignty, why is the state silent? These questions are not limited to public noise. He alluded to the essence of state issues: authority should not be delegated to corporations," he said.

Pieter assessed that this was a trigger for the anger of the Minister of Defense (Menhan) Sjafrie Sjamsuddin when he visited Morowali, Central Sulawesi. After seeing the airport at IMIP, Pieter said, Defense Minister Sjafrie called this phenomenon a 'state within the country'.

"The term, which is not just a retorical, but rather an affirmation that state sovereignty should not be negotiated in industrial territory. The closure of this airport also triggers public suspicion, as if there are activities that escape national scrutiny," he explained.

Pieter explained, by regulation, IMIP airport is categorized as a special airport. As a private airport, he is not required to have immigration posts, customs, or public traffic access.

"Immigration procedures can be carried out at departure airports or transits, such as Jakarta or Makassar. Thus, the status in particular is not a problem. However, when the status turns into a complete closed state of government control, that's where the real problem begins," he said.

Pieter Zulkifli emphasized that in aviation law, the state is still required to be present at all facilities that are part of air space sovereignty. Special status, according to him, should not remove the state's function as a security supervisor, aviation regulator, and full authority holder for the entry of humans and goods.

Therefore, he considered, the government should place its apparatus in the private area. For example, airport authorities, defense security, even immigration and customs if needed according to operational risk levels.

"The absence of the state created a dangerous gray space: the air space is supervised by the company, the movement of logistics is invisible, and the mobility of foreign workers has not been monitored. Public criticism has strengthened," he said.

"If you want to discipline, there is no need to talk much. Strict action must be taken against anyone, from central to regional officials. 'Remove and examine all officials who have been involved' such as encouragement that lives in society. This criticism cannot be considered as emotional pressure, but a warning to the weakening function of state control," he continued.

Pieter Zulkifli is of the opinion that the state should not only supervise, but ensure that every flight entity is subject to public law. He emphasized that the airport is not just a place of departure and arrival.

"He is the door of sovereignty. If the door is allowed to be guarded by private interests, then sovereignty has been traded.

Therefore, the government must act quickly and effectively. Regulation audits are absolutely carried out," he stressed.

He said law enforcement must touch negligent officials, not just operators in the field. He emphasized that the transparency of licensing and management of private airports must be strictly and proactively regulated.

"The state is not here to hinder investment growth, but to ensure that growth does not rule out the basic principles of statehood. Sovereignty must not be subject to investment. Airports cannot be born without a country," he said.

"And air space should not be lent just because there are industries that grow rapidly. If the state wants to be respected, it must first respect itself by enforcing the law on the territory it is entitled to," added Pieter Zulkifli.