Indonesia Asked to Overcome Border Conflict
Monday, 24 March, 2008 | 15:19 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Parliament's Defense Commission agrees to immediately solve the border conflict with Malaysia, Singapore, and Timor Leste. It is often security patrols from different countries fight each other at the border area. “A meeting is required to decide the border limit,” said head of the Defense Commission, Theo L. Sambuaga, at the Parliament building in Jakarta yesterday.

The meeting between the Commission and Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Widodo A.S., yesterday, discussed about the development border area, both land and sea; illegal problems; and the plan to form a national security regulation.

A member of the Defense Commission from the PDI-P faction, Permadi, thinks the border area has not been watched properly. As a result, he said, border limits are often moved. Conflict usually happens in the border area. “ It is usual for another country to take advantage of us,” Permadi said.

The meeting was also attended by Foreign Affairs Minister, Nur Hassan Wirajuda; Home Affairs Minister, Mardiyanto; Defense Minister, Juwono Sudarsono; Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Freddy Number; Head of the National Police, General Sutanto; Head of National Intelligence Agency ), Syamsir Siregar; Commander of National Armed Forces of Indonesia, General Joko Santoso; and Attorney General Hendarman Supandji.

Widodo A.S said the government had discussed about how to solve conflict in border areas. The government is ready to repair equipment at 41 border areas in Kalimantan and Serawak.

In developing the border area, he said, related department are committed to enforce security, and to improve the development distribution for prosperity. Initially, Widodo said, the government will focus on the economic aspect.

The government has allocated a budget to develop the border area since 2005 from the Home Affairs Department, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Department. The budget has been increased from Rp 32 billion in 2005 to Rp 194 billion in the next three years.

After decentralization, Widodo said, the regional autonomy policy has been delegated to the regional government. “Regional leaders have started the development,” he said.

The meeting resulted in DPR requiring the Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs to coordinate entire departments to overcome the border conflicts, both in land and sea, such as illegal fishing and logging. There is Rp 1,500 trillion potential losses due to this illegal activity.

EKO ARI WIBOWO | KURNIASIH