Indonesia needs detailed maps<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Detailed maps are crucial to the preservation of
\nIndonesia's national resources and territorial integrity, an
\nofficial said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The head of the National Survey and Mapping Coordinating
\nAgency (Bakosurtanal), Paul Suharto, said on Saturday that
\ncomplete and unabridged maps of the country are important in
\nprotecting Indonesia's borders against potential claims from
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
He pointed to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of
\nthe Sea, which came into effect in November and officially
\nrecognizes Indonesia \"archipelagic concept\", as one reason why
\nthorough maps were important.<\/p>\n
\"As an archipelago we have to lodge detailed maps with the UN
\nin support of our claims to the exclusive economic zone and
\ncontinental shelf,\" Paul said, following a meeting with President
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
Accurate maps of an international standard will aid
\nnegotiators in any border disputes, he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has land borders with Malaysia, on the island of
\nBorneo, and with Papua New Guinea, on the island of Irian Jaya.
\nDense forest and steeply undulating mountains often make it
\ndifficult to clearly the demarcate borders with those two
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Accurate maps have been important in the dispute between
\nJakarta and Kuala Lumpur over the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan,
\nlocated just east of Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Paul said that historical documents and maps show that both of
\nthe former colonial masters, Britain and the Netherlands, had
\nconducted surveys of the two islands.<\/p>\n
But he asserted that records also show that in the end the two
\nislands belonged to Dutch territory.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto acknowledged the importance of cartography
\nand urged the private sector to play a greater role in this
\nendeavor, Paul said.<\/p>\n
\"The president instructed Bakosurtanal to help our friends in
\nthe private sector to gain the technological know-how necessary
\nfor mapping and he urged them to invest in training and
\nequipment,\" Paul said.<\/p>\n
Mapping remains a largely untapped industry which holds much
\npotential and could employ many workers, he said.<\/p>\n
Paul said this could be a lucrative industry for the private
\nsector since all they would have to do would be to add
\naccessories and background information to government maps.<\/p>\n
Twenty-five years ago, only some 13 percent of Indonesia had
\nbeen mapped. The figure is currently about 68 percent of the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had established its expertise in the surveying and
\nmapping field, Paul said.<\/p>\n
\"Our experts can be depended on ... In fact our expertise in
\nthe survey field is being offered to Malaysia, Thailand and oil-
\nrich countries such as Saudi Arabia.\"(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-needs-detailed-maps-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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