Army, police posts vital to protect outer islands

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

The government has been advised to immediately station troops and set up police posts in outlying border areas to anticipate problems that may arise, a legislator says.

Deputy speaker of Commission I on Defense at the House of Representatives Yusron Ihza Mahendra said Tuesday the Indonesian Military (TNI) should speed up the deployment of battalions to strategic border areas, as surveillance on outer islands was still inadequate.

"The TNI will place troops in strategic border areas with neighboring countries. Commission I strongly supports the move so we can overcome problems in border areas and increase surveillance on outer islands," Yusron said on the sidelines of a meeting with the Riau Police top brass in Batam.

Yusron did not specify the number of battalions to be deployed or where they would be set up. He only pointed out Commission I had given approval and that the plan would soon be implemented.

Aside from widespread smuggling in the border zones, Indonesian fishermen have often been driven out by foreign authorities that blame them for trespassing into their territories. This, Yusron said, would not be the case if there were Indonesian military or police patrols.

Another problem, he said, is the reported sale of islands to foreigners in Riau Islands province.

"Deployment of military personnel to border zones is crucial in order to safeguard our territories from the threat of foreign parties."

Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Sutarman said his office had posted three officers on each of the inhabited islands.

The provincial police have placed their officers on more than 10 outer islands in an effort to beef up security and prevent the islands from changing hands.

Sutarman said the deployment of police personnel to outer islands was part of their commitment to oversee border areas.

Based on a consent, the TNI will deploy Marine or Army troops to the outer islands, while the inhabited islands will be manned by police personnel.

"We will build police posts if possible. We have proposed to build police stations there," Sutarman said.

Currently, there are 92 outer islands bordering neighboring countries, 19 of which are in Riau Islands province. Natuna regency consists of 12 islands located between Malaysian Borneo and the Malaysian mainland. The islands include Tokong Malang Biru, Damar, Mangkai, Tokong Nanas, Tokong Berlayar, Tokong Boro, Semiun, Sebetul, Sekatung, Senua, Subi Kecil and Kepala islands.

Bintan regency includes Sentut Island near Singapore, Karimun regency encompasses Iyi Kecil and Karimun Kecil islands, also near Singapore, and Batam includes Nipah, Pelampong, Batu Behanti and Nongsa islands.