Two islands sink in Bengkulu
The Jakarta Post | Sat, 05/23/2009 8:50 PM | National
Two uninhabited Bangkai and Satu islands of Enggano archipelago of North Bengkulu have sunk due to abrasion, tempointeraktif.com reported Saturday.
Enggano's custom head M. Rafli Zen said that illegal lodging was a cause for those islands to disappear from the lands.
“Many fishermen outside Enggano cut down the trees as they like. They do not realize that the trees provide natural resources for locals as well as prevent the islands from abrasion,” M. Rafli said.
He said that many fishermen were using artificial bombs to net fishes thereby destroying corals in the islands.
Since 1960s, many locals have cultivated the islands as coconut plantations. But the nearby residents can no longer control outsiders activities since they do not live in the islands.
Thus far, the archipelagic area leaves one major island Enggano and two small islands : Dua and Marbau.
To anticipate from abrasion in the Enggano island, the residents have planted 500 mangroves alongside the coastal of the island beach.
The residents said they had asked for the North Bengkulu administration to provide wave breakers, but had yet to receive any responds.
Haitama Sulani, head of Bengkulu's People Custom Alliance, said that the Enggano island was left behind other islands in the province despite its rich natural resources, such as lobsters, cacaos and coconuts.
“There is no electricity and poor transportation facilities,” he said.
The Enggano island is a home for 2,900 people from five tribes --- Kaitora, Ka'una, Ka'arubi, Ka'aruga and Ka'anua. (ewd)
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2...-bengkulu.html
Bener-bener deh, karena ketidakpedulian pemerintah daerah disana dan oknum tak bertanggung jawab, dua pulau jadi hilang :(
