Remodelling Indonesia’s Maritime Law Enforcement Architecture: Theoretical and Policy Considerations

• Published in: Contemporary Southeast Asia 2022-04, Vol.44 (1), p.122-149
• Main Author: LAKSMANA, EVAN A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Architecture; Law enforcement; Maritime law
• ISSN: 0129-797X; 1793-284X
• DOI: 10.1355/cs44-le

Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelagic state, tends to punch below its weight in regional maritime affairs. Part of the explanation for this puzzle lies in Indonesia’s under-developed and ineffective maritime governance system. This article seeks to develop ways to overhaul Indonesia’s maritime governance by focusing on one specific but potentially strategic area: maritime law enforcement in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The article analyses the institutional challenges surrounding Indonesia’s EEZ maritime law enforcement and develops theoretical models and policy options drawn from the experiences of other Asian maritime states. It argues that Indonesia needs to move from its current “division of labour” model, where there are multiple agencies with multiple tasks, to a “unified command” model, where different maritime assets are unified under a single operational command. The article suggests that Indonesia should consider a “dual agency” architecture where the Indonesian Navy and the Maritime Security Agency become the two primary EEZ maritime law enforcement authorities. The article aims to contribute to broader debates surrounding maritime security governance and Indonesia’s future trajectory as a maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.