ID :
44202
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 21:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/44202
The shortlink copeid
TNI INTENSIFIES SECURITY AT NIPAH ISLAND
Jakarta, Feb 4 (ANTARA) - Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander General Djoko Santoso said the military has intensified security in Nipah Island on the periphery of the country's territory bordering Singapore.
"Yes, we have intensified security in Nipah Island. A naval post and a pier have already been set up there," he said after a meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Widodo Adi Sutjipto.
Santoso's assistant for operations, Major General Supiadin, corroborated the TNI commandere's statement saying that an army platoon had also been stationed on the island.
He said the island's security had so far been maintained by personnel from the naval base in Batam. "The setting up of a naval post and a pier there is aimed at optimizing the island's security to prevent the country from losing it," he said.
He said the government would communicate with Singapore regarding the existence of the military post and pier there because the island lay on a border with Singapore.
Following their last meeting on border matters in 1973, Indonesia and Singapore had been routinely discussing outstanding common sea border problems.
The two countries again held a technical meeting in 2005 to discuss approaches to be used in their discussions on their common boundaries.
Another technical meeting was held in Jakarta early in November last year and as a result of the meeting the two countries agreed to sign an agreement regarding their sea border north of Nipah Island later this February.
The Indonesian government plans to make a blueprint for the development of the island. "In principle the President wishes that a blueprint for the development of the island be made in view of the strategic position of the island in the Malacca Strait," Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said after a limited cabinet meeting at the presidential office on Tuesday.
The blueprint would lay out the strategic position of Riau islands including Nipah Island in economic, defense and security terms.
Asked why the measures to secure Nipah Island were only made now, the minister said everything had to be done in line with the government's medium- and long-term program.
"Yes, we have intensified security in Nipah Island. A naval post and a pier have already been set up there," he said after a meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Widodo Adi Sutjipto.
Santoso's assistant for operations, Major General Supiadin, corroborated the TNI commandere's statement saying that an army platoon had also been stationed on the island.
He said the island's security had so far been maintained by personnel from the naval base in Batam. "The setting up of a naval post and a pier there is aimed at optimizing the island's security to prevent the country from losing it," he said.
He said the government would communicate with Singapore regarding the existence of the military post and pier there because the island lay on a border with Singapore.
Following their last meeting on border matters in 1973, Indonesia and Singapore had been routinely discussing outstanding common sea border problems.
The two countries again held a technical meeting in 2005 to discuss approaches to be used in their discussions on their common boundaries.
Another technical meeting was held in Jakarta early in November last year and as a result of the meeting the two countries agreed to sign an agreement regarding their sea border north of Nipah Island later this February.
The Indonesian government plans to make a blueprint for the development of the island. "In principle the President wishes that a blueprint for the development of the island be made in view of the strategic position of the island in the Malacca Strait," Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said after a limited cabinet meeting at the presidential office on Tuesday.
The blueprint would lay out the strategic position of Riau islands including Nipah Island in economic, defense and security terms.
Asked why the measures to secure Nipah Island were only made now, the minister said everything had to be done in line with the government's medium- and long-term program.
