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One of the outcomes of President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to the People’s Republic of China was the signing of several agreements. According to the Joint Statement between President Prabowo Subianto and President Xi Jinping on November 9, 2024, one of these agreements pertains to maritime cooperation. Point 9 of the Joint Statement states that both countries have reached a “common understanding on joint development in areas of overlapping claims.”

This statement has sparked diverse reactions. The Indonesian academic community, in particular, has raised questions and even expressed opposition to the agreement. In this article, I aim to clarify the issue through a geospatial and legal lens, specifically within the framework of international law of the sea. Please refer to the following articles:

1. Article in English

1. Artikel dalam Bahasa Indonesia

Yes, I received an award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibu Retno Marsudi. For me, this is truly special. Receiving recognition from the Foreign Minister was something I never imagined when I first ventured into boundary issues. Time moves quickly. The universe conspires to make things happen with remarkable swiftness. To others, this award might not seem extraordinary, but for me, it’s a different story. For me, for my family, and especially for my parents, this is a story that will color their conversations in coffee shops, at village gatherings, in community meetings, at senior citizen events, and even at lively mass yoga sessions.

Continue reading “Award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs”

I gave a talk at a pre-departure session for LPDP scholarship awardees on 5 September 2024. Around 300 students were there to participate in an online session. As always, having a session with LPDP awardees is always rewarding. I could easily feel their energy.

Even though it was an online session, I could easily feel their enthusiasm. I gave the lecture when I was in Salatiga for another session. At UKSW in Salatiga, I also gave another lecture regarding my experience in pursuing my PhD study. Please read my other post for a more comprehensive understanding about my other lecture.

Back to the LPDP event, the session was about becoming aspiring scholars. They are about to start their study in highly reputable institutions around the Globe. I can imagine, they will grow into great intellectuals. Having understood this, it is essential for them to prepare themselves to contribute in the society where they belong. Hence, helping them prepare themselves to be aspiring scholars in the future, for me, is a privilege.

I had fun discussing with the students, virtually. They had good questions that provoked my views on being aspiring scholars. I wish them best of luck!

I shared my experiences in accomplishing a PhD study with young lecturers of Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW) in Salatiga. Around 50 young lecturers were there, enthusiastically listened to my stories. I also gave some tips and tricks in securing scholarships.

The event was fun and with full supports from Madam Rector Intiyas. I just realized that she is the first female rector of UKSW. Such a courageous and brilliant lady with progressive minds. It seems that she is also close to her colleagues, young lecturers at UKSW. She was there all the time during my session to show her full support.

Before the session, Rector Intiyas also took me to a cafe she manages. It was a relatively old house with various kinds of arts. I found a great number of paintings, antiquate collections, statues and some others. It really feels like a combination of classic values, strong tradition and contemporary art. The rector informed me how she has been producing works and policies while siting there at the cafe while enjoying coffee, traditional music, and the aroma of incense sticks.

I was asked to present my ideas on sea level rise and how it affects sovereignty and sovereign rights. The event was held in Jakarta on 20 August 2024, organized by the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marinves). Also presenting at the event were a Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), a researcher from BRIN, a director from the National Planning Agency, and a senior researcher from BMKG.

Continue reading “Sea Level Rise and Its Challenges to Sovereignty”

The Directorate of Public Health and Nutrition, Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) of the Republic of Indonesia invited me to share my views regarding their new project. They are mapping access to health service facilities between regions, especially in island areas (kepulauan). During the process, they need experts’ views  regarding the results of the mapping.

I was invited to give my views on the matter. The meeting was conducted online through zoom involving different parties. Assisted by Akram, a young alumni of our department, I delivered some notes and points to improve the mapping process. In general, they have done good job in improving access to health facilities using geospatial sciences and technology.

The Master Program of Geomatics Engineering of UGM collaborated with the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Jepang in conducting a short workshop. Seven students and two professors from Nagoya University came to Jogja for a ten-day program, one of which was a joint public lecture.

I was asked to deliver a lecture for the program where around 20 students from Japan and Indonesia attended. My lecture was on Border in a Borderless World, talking particularly about issues on international maritime boundaries. Being a public lecture, the program was open for public and students from different faculties/schools came to attend. It was a good challenge for to deliver the lecture in a language that is accessible to those with different background. I personally enjoyed it.

The lecture went well with some good questions from the audience. Prof. Ito from Nagoya University also participated actively by discussing some part of my lecture. For me personally, the lecture was a good test, how effective I could be in delivering lecture for audiences with various background. In general, I was happy!

It felt so great to be back at the Office of International Affairs (OIA). It has been almost a year after I left the office, transitioning my position from the head of the office to the head of Master Program of Geomatics Engineering. Now that OIA invited me to speak to students from Ritsumeikan University, Japan, I somehow felt nostalgic. Academic Internationalization has been in my blood, I guess.

The topic was unusual. I was tasked to talk about Indonesia, Bali, and Hindu. The students need to understand Indonesia and its diverse culture better so I had to honor to speak to them. It was a one-hour session but it seemed to me that we used it effectively. Students’ enthusiasm helped me gain great energy in delivering my lecture.  They also had some critical questions so that we had good conversation after the presentation.

A delegation consisting of people from the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment , Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and Geospatial Information Agency visite the Department of Geodetic Engineering on 12 February 2024. The purpose of their visit was to discuss the Draft of the Government Regulation on Internal Waters. I was specifically asked to be only resource person at the discussion.

There has been an initiative to establish a Government Regulation regarding International Waters in Indonesia. The draft is currently being discussed by all stakeholders in order to improve its quality. During their visit to UGM, we had specific and engaging discussion on a number of issues such as the definition of internal waters, the delineation of internal waters within archipelagic state, the impact of sea level rise to the shape of the coastlines.

I did not touch to much on the legal provisions but I took my time to explain key issues using illustration so it was, I hope, easier for people to understand.

 

The Indonesian Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) extended an invitation to me to take part in a discussion on  Presidential Candidate’s Vision on Maritime Affairs. It was such an honor. I flew to Jakarta on 6 February 2024 to join the discussion forum at the Katadata Building. The event was a collaboration between IOJI and Katadata.

The team of each presidential candidate presented their vision and plan on maritime affairs and two experts were asked to respond and give comments. Serving as the experts are Mas Arie from UI and I. It was great to be there. I also admire how IOJI managed to present its study on maritime issues and the law of the sea in Indonesia with public domain data. Such a comprehensive report, I think.

The event was recorded and here is part of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmWPet2QzNM&t=6999s