TNI TO BUILD NAVAL POST AT NIPAH ISLAND SOON

Jakarta, Nov 18 (ANTARA) - The National Defense Forces (TNI) will soon set up a naval post on Nipah island which shares a border with Singapore, TNI Chief Gen Djoko Santoso said.

The construction of the naval post and a pier on the island was expected to be completed in the next two months, Santoso said after attending a coordination meeting on political, legal and security affairs here on Tuesday.
"In the meantime, the TNI will prepare personnel and equipment to operate the naval post and pier," he said.
Assistant for operations to the TNI chief Maj Gen Supiadin meanwhile said the island was so far being guarded only by a platoon of TNI personnel.
"The presence of the naval post and pier in Nipah island is necessary to step up security there. Without increased security, we might lose the island sooner or later," he said.
He said the government would soon inform Singapore of the presence of the naval post and pier as the island was located at the periphery of Indonesian territory and facing the neigboring city state.
Since the last meeting held in 1973, Indonesia and Singpore have routinely discussed their still-unsettled sea border problems.
In 2005, the two nations began holding technical meetings to discuss approaches to resolve their sea border problems.
The latest technical meeting was held in Jakarta early this month.
Also present at the coordination meeting on political, legal and security affairs on Tuesday were Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono, Home Affairs Minister Mardiyanto, Law and Human Rights Minister Andi Matalatta, National Police Chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Dahuri and Chief of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Paskah Suzetta.