Asia Pacific Regional Round of Moot Court Competition and Space Law Conference

For the first time in ten years, Indonesia became the host for the international space law competition and conference for Asia Pacific. The 2011 Asia-Pacific Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition was held on the Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) Karawaci campus June 3 ? 5, 2011 while the International Conference on the Law of Outer Space ran from June 6 ? 7, 2011. The International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and the Indonesian Society of International Law (ISIL) organized the events.

For three days, 24 teams competed in the moot court competition, focusing on the topic Environmental Contamination and Harmful Interference in Space Activities. The teams, each comprised of two to three law students, represented many countries, including Indonesia, India, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines.

In the last round, the National University of Singapore (NUS) team defeated finalists from the National Law University, Delhi, India. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will sponsor the NUS team as they travel to Cape Town, South Africa, to compete against representatives from Europe and North America in October 2011.

When discussing the event, Erline Herrmann, Executive Director of ISIL explained, ?This competition aims to put students in real practice where they analyze the case and apply it as well as make arguments. Each team usually has prepared case materials six to seven months in advance.? The teams were evaluated based on their case analysis, the knowledge of the case they handled, and the structure of their language and arguments. The judges represented various countries, such as Japan, India, China, Romania, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

The conference, focusing on a similar topic, began at the close of the competition. The conference featured four sessions and opened with a presentation from the head of Indonesia?s Aviation and Space Agency – Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional (LAPAN), Bambang Setiawan Tejasukmana. The agency leader expressed his pleasure in having the opportunity to discuss important topics with space law experts especially since Indonesia?s Space Law is currently being drafted. ?Today, countries that establish capacity and capability to use and explore space are significantly increasing,? he stated.

Approximately 60 experts and law students from Asia Pacific countries participated in the conference. In the future, the law event will be held in other Asia Pacific countries;  strong candidates for hosting the next conference include China, Japan, and India. (dee)

UPH Media Relations