WOC-CTI Not For Fisherfolks
Press Release, May 14 2009
Jakarta, 14th May 2009. World Ocean Conference-Coral Triangle Initiative (WOC-CTI), which held in Manado, North Sulawesi from 11st-15th Mei 2009, showing that it neglecting fihserfolks in a search of answer of oceanic-fishery problem and climate change. Also, WOC-CTI do not give protection on principle rights of traditional fisher folk and communities who live in coastal area, particularly who live in Third World and archipelago countries. Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) potentially become a threat into sovereignty of archipelago countries.
MOD reflecting an anthropocentric logic of Liberal. Without considering of integration nature and human, four points of MOD which has been agreed to discuss on 14th May 2009, respectively are Convention of Ocean Law 1982, technology transfer, fund mechanism, and a plan to include oceanic dimension into United Nation Convention post Kyoto Protocol 2012.
Four points of MOD have the heart to put food sovereignty, fishery and sea productivity under ambition of conservation. Looking from this spirit, MOD is not a new thing that unplanningly to be agreed in WOC Manado. This is a continual of global ambition to strengthen “conservation regime”. Destruction is a saving of future profit. That is the spirit of conservation with genuinely already promulgated since middle of eighteen century when Franc issued a law on best forest as reserves for king. Through model of conservation, WOC-CTI have the heart to push liberalisation of sea sector and fishery more perfect, making catching power of fisher folks decreasing and intensifying fishery conflicts in archipelago countries. And sea become a global good that can be serve for interest of global market.
That WOC-CTI not containing the things mention above as main agenda in handling sea crisis and climate change could have been predicted since the beginning. Moreover, the conference itself sterile from voice of fisher folks who have been repressed by security forces of North Sulawesi Government that culminating in arresting and force eviction foreign activists (11st May 2009) that tainted democracy in Indonesia.
WOC-CTI ought to yield a common agreement to curb fish thieving conducting by 10 countries in last 15 years, that it will could saving 50 percent of fish catchment every year. Manado Ocean Declaration also just benching the real problem of climate, that is to decreasing industrial countries'carbon emission is a must. To protect sea, fisher folks and coastal communities, industrial countries must decreasing their carbon emission until 40 percentat 2010, from 1990 level. Sea carbon trade that is being proposed is a modus operandi of conservation regime.
If archipelago countries do not want under a threat, so Manado Ocean Declaration should recognized sea territorial sovereignty of countries like Indonesia, as stipulated in International Law on Sea (UNCLOS 1982). Manado Ocean Declaration also must capable to protect rights of fisher folk , including their traditional area on sea as stipulated in UNCLOS 1982, article 51 .
Government of Indonesia should push more fair negotiation process based on solving root of sea problem and climate change, and immediately go out from scheme of United States and Australia business green washing, by pushing both of countries to decreasing their carbon emission significantly in amount of 40% percent before 2020. Government of Indonesia oblige to not using debt to fund mitigation and adaptation of climate change, including sea sector. And Government of Indonesia must protect and guarantee of fulfilling citizen's right, including traditional fisher folks and coastal communities on among other are guarantee people access and control of natural resources, ant recognized ecosystem management community based which already proven capable defending sustainability of economic resources and coastal ecology.
Contact Person:
Ade Fadli - WALHI/ Friends of The Earth Indonesia, 08152055331
Siti Maemunah - Jatam), 08153913179
Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI/FoE Indonesia), Jaringan Advokasi Tambang (JATAM), Koalisi Keadilan Rakyat untuk Perikanan (KIARA), Koalisi Anti Utang, ALIANSI MANADO, KPNNI, WALHI Jakarta, Lingkar Studi Aksi untuk Demokrasi (LS-ADI), Serikat Petani Indonesia, Institut Hijau Indonesia, Sarekat Hijau Indonesia, Imparsial, KontraS, LBH Jakarta, IHCS, PBHI, Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria, Sawit Watch dan KpSHK