Kajian geografis lahan dan perairan Pulau Weh untuk kawasan militer laut dan udara
YULIANTI, Sri, Prof.Dr. Sutikno
2003 | Tesis | S2 GeografiPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi secara geografi potensi lahan Pulau Weh sebagai kawasan militer laut dan udara, ditinjau dari potensi-strategis dan taktisnya. Penelitian ini diawali dengan mernpelajari situasi regional kawasan Asia Pasifik tentang rencana pembangunan Terusan Kra (Thailand) yang diperkirakan akan mempengaruhi situasi politik, keamanan, dan ekonomi di kawasan tersebut. Evaluasi geografis dilakukan untuk mengetahui potensi strategis dan potensi taktis lahan dan perairan P. Weh. Strategis dianalisis dengan memperhatikan distribusi daerah lembah yang secara ekonomis penting dan kota-kota beserta jaringan transportasinya, daerah pegunungan, laut, dan sungai. Taktis dinilai dengan menganalisis bentanglahan secara lebih detil. Penilaian dua aspek ini difokuskan untuk posisi tempat perlindungan dan persembunyi yang menguntungkan, mobilitas untuk lintas alam, reaksi medan terhadap perubahan bentuk, ketersediaan air dan material untuk konstruksi, dan potensi alam terhadap bencana alam. Veriabel yang diamati meliputi aspek fisik dan sosial. Variabel fisik meliputi: morfologi pantai, proses geomorfologi, batuan, tanah, hidrologt, kondsi perairan pantai (gelombang, arus, pasang-swt, dan kedalaman air), iklim, penggunaan lahan dan vegetasi, serta kondisi ekologis flora dan faunanya. Variabel sosialnya meliputi: kondisi demografis penduduk, opini masyarakat setempat tentang perkembangan kawasan militer di P.Weh. Variabel tersebut berpengaruh dalam pemilihan lokasi pelabuhan kapal militer, lokasi pelabuhan udara, dan lokasi basecamp militer. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa secara geografis P. Weh memiliki potensi strategs dan taktis. Potensi strategis P.Weh dinilai dan letaknya di pintu masuk Selat Malaka, dekat dengan kawasan pusat pertumbuhan perdagangan baru Terusan Kra, memildu potensi sumberdaya alam air tawar yang berlimpah, panas bumi, batu gunung, belerang, dan batu gamping. Potensi taktis Pulau Weh didasarkan pada letak dan kondisi pelabuhan alam yang baik untuk pertahanan laut. Kondisi fisik Plato Sabang sesuai untuk pelabuhan udara. Variasi kondisi topografi pulau sesuai untuk ajang persembunyianbdijadikan lahan untuk ajang persembunyian, lintas alam, dan tempat pemantauan ataupun pengintaian. Dengan demikian dapat disimpulkan bahwa Pulau Weh memiliki aspek strategis dan aspek taktis yang sangat mendukung untuk dijadikan suatu kawasan militer laut dan udara.
The present research was conducted to identify geographic potentials of Weh Island for marine and air military area: the land’s and marine’s potential for military area will be evaluated according to strategic and tactic value. The research was initiated by studying of the regional situation of the specific area based on geographic view. Problem was emerged in the Asia Pacific area, especially due to the development of Kra Channel which will affect the political, economic situations and safety of the surrounding area. Based on the regional development and land and marine potentials of Weh Island for military area, feasibility study on Weh Island was performed to evaluate the strategic and tactic potentials. The strategic property was evaluated by keeping out distribution of valleys area having economic significance with its cities and transportation network, mountain area, sea and rivers. Tactic aspect was evaluated by assessing more details of the landscape. The strategic and tactic aspect were foccused, on adventages of sites for watchng, protech, hide, mobility for cross-country: adaption to landscape modification, water and material availability for construction and natural potentials causing natural disaster. Variables involved physical and social aspect The variables of physical aspect were coastal geomorphology, geomorphological process, rockc, soil, hydrology, coastal marine condition (wave, current, tides, waterdepth), climate, landuse and vegetation, and ecological flora and fauna. The variables of social aspects involved population demographic condition, local public opinion on military area development of Weh Island. The variables affected harbour selection for military shps, airport location, and base-camp location purpose. The result of this study showed geographcal Weh Island has strategic and tactic potentials for military purposes. The Weh Island was strategic because it was situated at the gate of Melaka Straits and close to the new tradmg growth center area of Kra Channel. In addition, it possessed potential sources of abundant fresh water that many ships sailing Melaka Straits mostly needed. Moreover, the island has other natural resources, such as geothermal, rocks, sulphur, and limestone. Tactical potential of Weh Island had been proved with its good site and position of natural harbour of Sabang Bay. Balohan Bay, and other bays when functioned as military and defence purposes. The Sabang Plateau is a very good site to the airport. Various topographical condition of the island could be functioned as hiding places, difficult cross-country area, and site for monitoring and spying. Hence, it was presumably concluded that Weh Island had mostly supporting strategic and tactical aspects to become marine and air military area.
Kata Kunci : Geografi Fisik,Lahan Perairan,Kawasan Militer Laut dan Udara
