Miangas

Miangas means "exposed to piracy", because pirates from Mindanao used to visit the island.{{harvnb|Ganesan|Amer|2010|p=297}} In the Sasahara language,{{efn|Sasahara language or sea language is a language that is used by Sangir people while sailing.}} the island is called Tinonda (Minahasan: Poilaten), meaning "people who live separated from the main archipelago" and "our island", respectively.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|pp=14–15}} During the 16th century, the island was named in Spanish as Isla de las Palmas, and in Portuguese Ilha de Palmeiras.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|pp=10–11}}

File:Tanjung Bora - panoramio.jpg

According to local tradition, there were a number of kingdoms in the area. Sangir, Talaud and Sitaro belonged to two kingdoms, Tabukan and Kalongan. To justify their sovereignty over Miangas, the Dutch argued that the island had been under the domination of the princes of Sangir.M. P. H. Roessingh, "Dutch relations with the Philippines:a survey of sources in the General States Archives, The Hague, Netherlands", Asian Studies 5, No. 2, pp. 377-407

In October 1526, Garcia Jofre de Loaísa, Spanish sailor and researcher, was the first European to visit the island.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|p=10}}{{cite book |title =European Voyaging towards Australia | first =Jorge | last =Berguno | chapter=The South and Mid-Pacific Voyages|editor1=Hardy, John | editor2=Frost, Alan | year =1990 | publisher =Australian Academy of the Humanities | isbn =0909897190}}{{cite journal | last =Kelsey | first =Harry | title =Finding the Way Home: Spanish Exploration of the Round-Trip Route across the Pacific Ocean | journal =The Western Historical Quarterly | volume =17 | issue =2 | publisher =Utah State University | location =United States | date =April 1986 | pages =145–164 | doi =10.2307/969278 | jstor =969278 }}{{cite journal | last =Nowell | first =Charles E. | title =The Loaisa Expedition and the Ownership of the Moluccas | journal =Pacific Historical Review | volume =5 | issue =4 | publisher =University of California Press | location =United States | date =December 1936 | pages =325–336 | doi =10.2307/3632888 | jstor =3632888 }}

The island was used as a defense site by Talaud people when under attack from the Sulu Sultanate.{{cite web |url=http://www.politik.lipi.go.id/index.php/in/kolom/politik-internasional/592-menilik-perbatasan-indonesia-filipina-pulau-miangas |title=Menilik Perbatasan Indonesia-Filipina: Pulau Miangas |first=Sandy Nur Ikfal |last=Raharjo |publisher=LIPI |date=17 January 2012 |access-date=16 June 2012}}

The island was affected by an outbreak of cholera in 1885, causing hundreds of the inhabitants to move to Karakelang Island.

In 1895, E. J. Jellesma, Oud-resident of Manado, visited Miangas to praise the residents and kapiten laut for rejecting the Spanish flag. Jellesma gave them a medal and a Dutch flag. With Jellesma was Pastor Kroll, who baptized 254 residents as Protestants. After Jellesma's visit, a Tahuna assistant resident and Pastor Pannings visited the island in April and October 1909.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|pp=61–62}}

{{main|Island of Palmas Case}}

According to the Treaty of Paris, the Philippines area was all areas within a large geographic box. Miangas lay inside the southern boundary of the box. On 21 January 1906, General Leonard Wood, Governor of Moro Province, officially visited the island for the first time.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|p=84}}{{harvnb|Hong|van Dyke|2009|p=139}} He found the Dutch flag was flying there and that the island was claimed as part of the Dutch East Indies. When Wood returned to Zamboanga, he reported it to the United States Military Secretary, on 26 January. The United States government referred the matter to the Netherlands through their embassy in The Hague on 31 March. On 17 October the Netherlands Foreign Ministry responded with reasons why the island was included in the Dutch East Indies.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|pp=84–85}} On 23 January 1925 the Netherlands and the United States brought the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, under sole arbitrator Max Huber of Switzerland.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|p=85}} On 4 April 1928 Huber decided that the island "forms in its entirety a part of Netherlands territory", in favour of the Dutch argument that it exercised sovereignty from 1677, or possibly from 1648, out of conventions entered into with native princes on Sangi.{{cite web|last1=Huber|first1=Max|author-link1=Max Huber (statesman) |title=Island of Palmas (or Miangas) (The United States of America v. The Netherlands) |url=https://pcacases.com/web/sendAttach/714|website=PCA Case Repository |publisher=Permanent Court of Arbitration|access-date=8 October 2016 |location=The Hague|date=4 April 1928}}{{cite journal|journal=Reports of International Arbitral Awards|title=Island of Palmas Case |url=http://www.freiheitistselbstbestimmtesleben.de/pdf/UN_Las_Palmas_1928.pdf|date=4 April 1928|volume=II|pages=829–871}}{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|p=86|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=30 November 2013}}

In 1956, Indonesia and the Philippines signed an agreement to allow border residents in Sangihe, Talaud, Nunukan, Balut, and Sarangani who had a laissez-passer to cross the border. In 1965, an implementation agreement designated Marore, Miangas, Mabila, and Balut as checkpoints.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|pp=121–123}}

In 1972, the island was hit by a tsunami, 90 households were moved to Bolaang-Mongondow Regency as a result.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|p=139}}

In 2005, Indonesia refused a shipping line from Miangas to Davao. In the same year, Miangas village secretary Jhonlyi Awala died after being beaten by Miangas chief of police. Protesters lowered the Indonesian flag and raised the Philippine flag, citing neglect of the island. Talaud regent arrived to de-escalate the situation.{{cite web |last1=Velasco |first1=Djorina |date=28 January 2007 |title=Between Manado and Davao: How the Indonesian island of Miangas is making use of its Philippine ties |url=http://archives.newsbreak-knowledge.ph/2007/01/28/between-manado-and-davao-how-the-indonesian-island-of-miangas-is-making-use-of-its-philippine-ties/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220181236/http://archives.newsbreak-knowledge.ph/2007/01/28/between-manado-and-davao-how-the-indonesian-island-of-miangas-is-making-use-of-its-philippine-ties/ |archive-date=20 February 2017 |access-date=20 February 2017 |website=News Break Archives |publisher=Public Trust Media Group}}

In 2009, Indonesia said the Philippine Tourism Authority published a map which included Miangas into the Philippines' territory, but suggested the map was drawn by a private company that was not aware of official borders, as both countries signed an extradition treaty in 1976 which recognized Miangas as Indonesia's territory.

In 2009, a monument was built and inaugurated on the island by Commander of the Armed Forces Djoko Santoso to commemorate Santiago who defended the island from the Dutch.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2009-05-29 |title=Mabes TNI Segera Bangun Monumen Santiago |url=https://www.viva.co.id/berita/nasional/61782-mabes-tni-segera-bangun-monumen-santiago |access-date=2021-03-24 |website=www.viva.co.id |language=id}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2009-08-21 |title=Patung Santiago Diresmikan di Pulau Miangas |url=https://money.kompas.com/read/2009/08/21/13433777/patung.santiago.diresmikan.di.pulau.miangas |access-date=2021-03-24 |website=KOMPAS.com |language=id}}

In 2011, Miangas could be reached by larger ships operated by Pelni.{{cite news |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/06/28/two-ports-become-world-class-harbors.html |title=Two ports to become world-class harbors |first=Indra |last=Harsaputra |work=The Jakarta Post |date=28 June 2011 |access-date=15 June 2012}}

In 2014, Indonesia and the Philippines concluded negotiations over maritime borders, with the waters surrounding Miangas recognized as part of Indonesia.{{Cite web |last=Esmaquel |first=Paterno |date=2014-05-23 |title=Philippines, Indonesia seal historic maritime deal |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/58737-philippines-indonesia-eez-boundary-agreement/ |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}

Miangas Airport was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo. The inaugural flight served this airport several months later in 2017. A flight from Manado Airport serves the island once a week. The flight, operated by Wings Air, lands at Miangas Airport every Sunday.{{cite web |last=Polakitan |first=Karel Alexander |date=12 March 2017 |editor-last=Burhani |editor-first=Ruslan |title=Wings Air to Open Inaugural Flight to Miangas |url=https://www.antaranews.com/berita/617622/wings-air-buka-penerbangan-perdana-ke-miangas |access-date=24 June 2018 |website=Antaranews.com (in Indonesian)}}

Miangas is located {{convert|324|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} from Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi and {{convert|123|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} from Davao City in the Philippines.{{harvnb|Ganesan|Amer|2010|p=293}} It also lies {{convert|54|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} southeast of Mindanao.{{harvnb|Rothwell|Kaye|Akhtarkhavari|Davis|2010|p=272}} It is {{convert|2|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on|0}} long and {{convert|3/4|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} wide,{{harvnb|Hong|van Dyke|2009|p=94}} with an area of 3.15 km².{{cite news |date=14 February 2009 |title=Private mapmaker suspected in border blunder |work=The Jakarta Post |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/14/private-mapmaker-suspected-border-blunder.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222140710/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/14/private-mapmaker-suspected-border-blunder.html |archive-date=22 February 2009}}

Miangas, which lies to the north of the Nanusa Islands, forms a separate district within the Talaud Islands Regency.{{cite web |url=http://www.pelni.co.id/detailberita.php?id=109 |title=KM Sangiang-Berlayar Hingga Tapal Batas Miangas KM Sangiang-Berlayar Hingga Tapal Batas Miangas |publisher=Pelni |date=19 May 2011 |access-date=15 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015123037/http://pelni.co.id/detailberita.php?id=109 |archive-date=15 October 2012 }} The island is mainly lowland, about 1.5 metres above sea level. The highest point, called Gunung Batu, is 111 metres high, located in the northeast part of the island. This area is covered with coconut palm. In the northeast corner of the island, there is a {{convert|46|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} cliff, with the northeast shore fringed by a {{convert|0.2|mi|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} reef.{{harvnb|National Geospatial-intelligence Agency|2004|p=3}}

File:Bandar Udara Miangas.jpg

For transportation, Miangas inhabitants once relied on homemade sailboats. During the New Order, however, they started using motorboats. These are now the main source of transportation.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|pp=137–138}} Miangas Airport was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo. The inaugural flight served this airport several months later in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Susilo |first=Joko |date=19 October 2016 |title=President inaugurates airport in Miangas |url=https://en.antaranews.com/news/107285/president-inaugurates-airport-in-miangas |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Antara News}}{{cite news |last=Wiseno |first=Hari |last2=Qusnulyakin |first2=Firman |date=13 March 2017 |title=Wings Air Flies Inaugural Flight to Miangas Island |publisher=netralnews.com |url=http://www.en.netralnews.com/news/business/read/2519/wings.air.flies.inaugural.flight.to.miangas.island |url-status=dead |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921095702/http://www.en.netralnews.com/news/business/read/2519/wings.air.flies.inaugural.flight.to.miangas.island |archive-date=21 September 2017}}

Miangas inhabitants derive their main income from fishing. Women also weave mats from pandan leaves.{{harvnb|Ulaen|Wulandari|Tangkilisan|2012|pp=136–137}}

As at the 2010 Census, the island's population was 728 people; the official estimate in mid-2022 was 816.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023. Miangas inhabitants speak Indonesian and Talaud, the older generation usually also speak Tagalog.

The island has a police station and two military posts. There are also a market, a harbor office and a bank office.

{{notelist}}

{{Commonscat|Miangas}}

;Notes

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

;Bibliography

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xOYl0055WPkC |title=International Relations in Southeast Asia: Between Bilateralism and Multilateralism |first1=N. |last1=Ganesan |first2=Ramses |last2=Amer |publisher=ISEAS Publishing |location=Singapore |year=2010 |isbn=9789814279574 }}
• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mebBeRGmPAYC |title=Maritime Boundary Disputes, Settlement Processes, and the Law of the Sea |series=Publications on Ocean Development |volume=65 |first1=Seoung-Yong |last1=Hong |first2=Jon M. |last2=van Dyke |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |year=2009 |isbn=9789004173439 }}
• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TnHGVP_BfgUC |title=Prostar Sailing Directions 2004 New Guinea Enroute |author=National Geospatial-intelligence Agency |edition=9th |publisher=ProStar Publications |year=2004 |isbn=9781577855699 }}
• {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VT9Ep5Gehf4C |title=International Law: Cases and Materials With Australian Perspectives |first1=Donald R. |last1=Rothwell |first2=Stuart |last2=Kaye |first3=Afshin |last3=Akhtarkhavari |first4=Ruth |last4=Davis |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Melbourne, Victoria |year=2010 |isbn=9780521609111 }}
• {{cite book |title=Sejarah Wilayah Perbatasan: Miangas - Filipina 1928 - 2010 Dua Nama Satu Juragan |first1=Alex J. |last1=Ulaen |first2=Triana |last2=Wulandari |first3=Yuda B. |last3=Tangkilisan |publisher=Gramata Publishing |location=Jakarta |year=2012 |isbn=9786028986496 }}

{{refend}}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Miangas

| Northwest = {{flagicon|Philippines}} Governor Generoso, Philippines

| North = {{flagicon|Philippines}} Mati City, Philippines

| Northeast = Philippine Sea

| East = Philippine Sea

| Southeast = {{flagicon|Palau}} Hatohobei

| South = Karakelong

| Southwest = Sangihe Islands
Celebes Sea

| West = {{flagicon|Philippines}} Jose Abad Santos, Philippines

}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Landforms of North Sulawesi

Category:Islands of Sulawesi

Category:Former disputed islands