The South Ledge is still not settled.
Original images extracted from ICJ case docket files
Extracted from the ICJ Pedra Branca Press Release,
The Court finds that Singapore has sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh; that Malaysia has sovereignty over Middle Rocks; and that sovereignty over South Ledge belongs to the State in the territorial waters of which it is located.
In its Judgment, which is final, binding and without appeal, the Court
- finds by twelve votes to four that sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh belongs to the Republic of Singapore;
- finds by fifteen votes to one that sovereignty over Middle Rocks belongs to Malaysia;
- finds by fifteen votes to one that sovereignty over South Ledge belongs to the State in the territorial waters of which it is located.
Image extracted from Memorial of Singapore
Pedra Branca (with lighthouse) and Middle Rocks in the background. View taken from North to South.
Go to ICJ website for more information on the case.
Extracted from Wikipedia,
Implication of the ICJ Decision
The decision by the ICJ to award Pedra Branca to Singapore but to decide that Middle Rocks belongs to Malaysia is seen as a Pyrrhic victory. This is because the issue now turns to ownership of the surrounding territorial waters which would be hotly contested due to the close locations of both geographical feature. Nevertheless, it is estimated that Malaysia has lost 13km² of territory due to the ICJ decision.
The Malaysian Foreign Minister, Dato Sri Rais Yatim, on 23 May 2008 in a live interview after the ICJ's announcement, described the ICJ decision as a "win-win" situation. Further, he announced that a technical committee would be set up between Malaysia and Singapore to decide whether South Ledge falls withing the the territorial waters of either Malaysia or Singapore. It may be argued that the ICJ ruling construes a partial victory for Singapore given that while it affirmed its sovereignty over Pedra Branca, the ICJ decided to give Middle Rocks to Malaysia while the ownership of South Ledge is in dispute. The decision is not yet final and subject to appeal.[36] The judgment never totally resolved the dispute for it only determined the ownership of the main islet but not where the maritime boundary is. But the two countries set up a joint technical committee to enforce the judgment.
Images extracted from ICJ case docket files and Memorial of Singapore.
Other links:
- Pulau Batu Putih is Singapore’s
- World Court gives lighthouse island to Singapore
- Singapore gets the island while we get the rock
- Pulau Batu Puteh - Singapore Has Sovereignty Says ICJ
- ICJ awards Pedra Branca's sovereignty to Singapore
- Pedra Branca or Pulau Batu Puteh?
- Pedra Branca: Malaysia won 2 piece of land, Singapore only 1 tiny portion
- Condolences to BN Federal Government of Malaysia!
- It's Pedra Branca forever........
Update:
Technorati Top Search. No Pulau Batu Puteh?
anonymous: okie. np. noted. ;)
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that the ICJ settling of the dispute could finally resolve one big problem between both parties and lead to better ties :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.furykid.blogspot.com
why "Nevertheless, it is estimated that Malaysia has lost 13km² of territory due to the ICJ decision."? This is speaking as if that it WAS Malaysia's when it was totally disputed. I can understand the patriotic sentiments but the biasness of the supposingly-neutral statements is grinding. For the last 40 odd years Singapore was the one that had maintained the area, and the evidence (if those people had bothered to listen to the judgement) would brand the decision fair. It is obvious!
ReplyDeleteThe ICJ is a neutral court with no political leanings and biasness. Both Singapore and Malaysia has said that they will respect the decision.
yoong kheong: Yup. That's what third party ruling is for.
ReplyDeleterationalneurotic: heh heh. You are right. The assumptions are implied within the extract in Wikipedia. Don't know who wrote that. :)