Government Is Not Transparent, Sea Pagar Becomes Haram

The 30.16-kilometer sea fence in the Tangerang Sea, Banten. (ANTARA/Sulthony Hasanuddin/rwa)

JAKARTA The installation of a 30.16 kilometer long sea fence on the coast of Tangerang Regency, Banten, has been in the spotlight lately. Surprisingly, neither the Banten authorities nor the central government admit that they know anything about the budgeting.

The existence of the sea fence has actually been reported by the local community since August 2024 to the Banten Province Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP).

After receiving this information, DKP conducted field checks on August 19, 2024. Sure enough, it was found that a six-meter-high fence had been arranged to resemble alatin in the middle of the sea along the seven km.

Despite investigations, these unauthorized activities continue, and continue to extend to more than 30 km as they are today, having previously only stood 7 kilometers long.

On September 4-5, 2024, the DKP together with the Special Police (Polsus) of the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) returned to visit the location to meet and discuss with the sub-district head and the local regional head.

Then on September 18, 2024, the Head of the Banten DKP Eli Susiyanti and the team conducted patrols involving the Tangerang District Fisheries Service and the All-Indonesian Fishermen Association (HNSI).

DKP instructs that refresh activities be stopped because there are no recommendations or permits for the relevant regional head.

Surprisingly, until now no one has confessed and no one knows who is behind the construction of the sea fence. Even though with a height of six meters, this fence can be seen clearly and cause unrest among the local community.

The KKP sent a letter of termination of budgeting to the owner on December 19, 2024, through the Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision Unit (PSDKP). However, the KKP refused to reveal the identity of the company because the case is still in the process of being investigated.

Long story short, the KKP finally sealed a mysterious 30-16 km bamboo fence in the waters of Tangerang Regency, because it did not have a suitability permit for Marine Spatial Utilization Activities (KKPRL).

However, until now it is still a mystery to what and who installed the bamboo fence that spread from Muncung Village to Pakuhaji Village in the waters of Tangerang Regency, Banten, this.

The Manager of the Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Campaign for the Indonesian Environment Agency (Walhi) Dwi Sawung was surprised that until now no one was aware of the activities and parties responsible for the construction of the fence.

They pretend not to see it, pretend they don't know. It's been a long time since the fishermen complained to them that it was difficult to go to the sea because of this fence," said Dwi Sawung when contacted by VOI.

"People at this lower level don't dare because they know there are people or large forces that make it difficult to take action," he continued.

In addition, along the location of the sea fence, there are also important state-owned posts, to fish auctions. So, it's a bit surprising that the government doesn't know about the installation of fences and who owns them.

"In my opinion, they are pretending they don't know," he said.

Not long ago, a group of residents from the Pantura People's Network (JRP) claimed responsibility for the installation of a bamboo fence on the sea coast of Tangerang Regency.

JRP claims the fence was created to prevent abrasion in the area. This claim is denied by the activities of the Bhumi Reconvasion environment, Nana Prayatna Rahadian. He emphasized that the northern coastal area of Tangerang Regency is not an abrasion area, so the purpose of preventing abrasion with a sea fence is irrelevant.

The polemic of the sea fence is heating up because its existence has led to accusations against a number of parties, one of which is the developer of the PIK2 area, Agung Sedayu Group. The PIK 2 developer was accused of being the mastermind behind the miterius fencing that occurred in Tangerang.

Public Policy Observer Agus Pambagio suspects that Agung Sedayu Group, a company owned by conglomerate Sugianto Kusuma alias Aguan, paid his carpentry in an ancient way or strategy. But on the other hand, Agus blamed the previous government for giving the red carpet to Agung Sedayu Group.

"So what's wrong is giving the PSN, try not to give it, it's not going (to harm the community) like that. Already, now the ministry is responsible, taking legal action, because it's not in accordance with the law, it's over," said Agus.

However, this accusation was denied by Agung Sedayu Group through his attorney, Muannas Alaidid, who emphasized that his client has a high commitment to involving local communities at every stage of development.

Muanas also ensured that the company owned by conglomerate Sugianto Kusuma alias Aguan had never taken any action that hindered public access, including fishermen, to marine resources.

Dwi Sawung also suspects that there is a connection between the sea fence and the plan to develop PIK 2 which has been included in the National Strategic Project (PSN) since last year. According to him, it is very likely that the installation of the fence is a preparation for reclamation. This was reinforced by Walhi's review, that from what was advertised, the position installed by bamboo was almost the same as the reclamation plan.

"PSN is like a red carpet. When entering PSN, everything can be done, and can break through all kinds of rules. For this reason, the status of PSN must be revoked and evaluated. The period of private projects can be treated by PSN, it's private, not for the public," said Dwi.

However, Dwi emphasized that there was no transparency of PSN in the sea fence area, including which area I was included in the PSN. The same thing was conveyed by the Head of the Ombudsman Representative for Banten Province, Fadli Afriadi, who highlighted the lack of openness of PSN in the region.

"The government must be transparent and provide explanations to the public regarding PSN. Mainly related to the area, location, designation, and process of community involvement which is meaningful, in a sense that is directly affected," said Fadli.