Who rightfully owns Pedra Branca?Singapore and Malaysia are battling it out at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands for the ownership of the 2,000 m² rock outcrop at the Singapore Strait, near the South China Sea. Pedra Branca means "white rock" in Portuguese; a color effect resulting from large quantities of seabird droppings. Black-naped terns used it as a resting place during their search for fish near the reef in certain months of the year. Malaysia refers to it as Pulau Batu Puteh which means "island of the white rock" in Bahasa Melayu.
It was a hazard to shipping not just because of the reef, but also because the surrounding waters were, at one time, infested by pirates. The British built Horseburgh Lighthouse, which started operations in 1851. It has always been administered and maintained by Singapore although it is located some 18 nautical miles beyond Singapore's territorial water limit.
Dispute started when Malaysia published a map in 1979, wherein Pedra Banca was included in its territorial waters. Singapore, in response, lodged a formal protest with Malaysia, in early 1980.
It was a hazard to shipping not just because of the reef, but also because the surrounding waters were, at one time, infested by pirates. The British built Horseburgh Lighthouse, which started operations in 1851. It has always been administered and maintained by Singapore although it is located some 18 nautical miles beyond Singapore's territorial water limit.
Dispute started when Malaysia published a map in 1979, wherein Pedra Banca was included in its territorial waters. Singapore, in response, lodged a formal protest with Malaysia, in early 1980.
So as not to affect bilateral ties, both Singapore and Malaysia agreed not to dispute the court's decision. The ICJ's decision is expected to be announced by June 2008. It's is final and not subject to appeal.
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6 comments:
hi! thanks po for dropping by my blog the other day. ;)
hmmm.. sounds very familiar with our 'kalayaan' islands...
The only difference is there are more that 2 countries want it.
a lighthouse in the strait of singapore? that must be a cool place
love lighthouses, visited and blogged a few already
well it doesnt belong to singapore because it isnt in their boundary!
but why are they fighting over it?
its just a rock...
or am i missing something?
For a second there, I thought it was an island made out of bird shit, LOL.
Malaysia 'pips' Singapore in Pedra Branca claim
http://sophiesworld-sophiesworld.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysia-pips-singapore-in-pedra-branca.html
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