1/10 Today, 63 year ago, Prime Minister Indonesia, Mr. Djuanda, declared unilaterally the use of archipelagic baselines, for joining the outmost islands. The waters enclosed was then declared as internal waters (Deklarasi Djuanda 1957).

2/10 Most States protested the declaration as it was in breach of the law of the sea at that time. Such baselines also converted high seas within the Country into internal waters thus invited strong objection from maritime powers having strategic military interest.

3/10 Indonesia was not comfortable with the label of ‘breaker of international law”, and stood up for its defences by fighting for recognition in the UNCLOS making conferences. Indonesia was neither silent and nor keep it unresolved, but ready to talk and compromise.

4/10 A prominent international law scholar, Mochtar Kusumaatmadja,translated the declaration into a legal narrative,using the language of international law, thus understood by maritime lawyers. Then skillfull Diplomats i.a. Hasjim Djalal brought the texts to the diplomatic table.

5/10 Mochtar explained behind the unilateral Declaration: Indonesia has to ensure and safeguard its national and political unity as well as its territorial integrity, the very viability of Indonesia as a nation. He emphasized: seas shall connects instead of separate its islands