The UGM Council of Professors once again convened for their monthly intellectual rendezvous, “Pemikiran Bulaksumur #29,” unfurling insights on the theme “Future President’s Challenges: Maritime and Sovereignty.”
In this virtual gathering on Wednesday (Dec. 27), several UGM experts specializing in maritime and sovereignty matters shared their perspectives.
Among the distinguished speakers was Professor Marsudi Triatmodjo of the UGM Faculty of Law. During the discourse, he acknowledged Indonesia’s robust legal and institutional governance system within maritime law.
However, he underscored that this is insufficient to tackle the multifaceted challenges outlined in the maritime development roadmap.
A crucial maritime concern demanding attention is the unresolved border negotiations. Moreover, optimizing coastal areas and small islands remains an unmet objective. The naval security sector also grapples with challenges, including illegal fishing and piracy.
“There are lingering disaster-related concerns that have not garnered adequate attention from the government, such as sea-level rises,” he emphasized.
According to Professor Triatmodjo, in the future, Indonesia must bolster its maritime infrastructure through the lens of science and technology.
This endeavor should be complemented by accomplishing the yet-unrealized targets outlined in the maritime roadmap and addressing the aforementioned maritime challenges.
Meanwhile, Professor Purwo Santoso, a UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences luminary, perceives Indonesia grappling to establish maritime thinking as a comprehensive ideological framework.
“We are not meticulous enough; there is a lapse in establishing maritime thinking as a comprehensive ideological framework. For national resilience, citizens must be aware,” he asserted.
Professor Santoso also accentuated the significance of fortifying borders. International collaboration in border regions is paramount to showcasing national sovereignty. This collaborative effort needs to be followed up with the formulation of clear rules and regulations.
Professor Djagal Wiseso Marseno directed attention to the imperative of fortifying citizenship. The reinforcement of Indonesian citizenship concerning geopolitics and geostrategy necessitates a systematic, structured, and extensive approach, spanning formal, informal, and non-formal education from early childhood through university. This initiative should engage high-quality human resources and institutions.
“The cultivation of thinking and attitudes as Indonesian citizens need to be tailored to current and future contexts, employing up-to-date delivery methods and assessment tools, and backed by adequate infrastructure and funding,” he expounded.
Author: Ika