Mega asks country's borders marked<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Rusman, Jakarta\/Samarinda<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri ordered on Monday local
\ngovernments whose territories share borders with neighboring
\ncountries to build monuments to mark the country's borders.<\/p>\n
Speaking to key players in the tourism industry at the State
\nPalace, Megawati said Indonesia would soon issue a new map of the
\ncountry, with clear borders.<\/p>\n
\"I do not want the country to lose more land. So, do not take
\nthe issue of border markers lightly,\" the President said. \"To
\nensure the border markers stay, I urge regional governments close
\nto the border to build monuments to mark our boundaries with
\nneighboring countries.\"<\/p>\n
Megawati's administration has been working on the settlement
\nof border disputes with neighboring countries since Indonesia
\nlost the legal battle against Malaysia over its jurisdiction of
\nSipadan and Ligitan islands early last year.<\/p>\n
The government has also received reports of certain parties
\nwho moved border markers in Kalimantan several kilometers toward
\nMalaysian territory in order to facilitate illegal logging
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
\"We are going to continue negotiations with neighboring
\ncountries before we can produce the new map of Indonesia,\"
\nMegawati said.<\/p>\n
Separately, the East Kalimantan administration announced a
\nplan to open a border crossing point between Indonesia and
\nMalaysia in Nunukan regency to improve the supervision of the
\nmovement of people and goods across the border.<\/p>\n
Governor Suwarna Abdul Fatah said the border crossing would
\ncost his administration around Rp 200 billion (US$22.2million).
\nThe province borders the East Malaysian state of Sabah.<\/p>\n
\"With or without the gate, there are always people and goods
\ncrossing the border. With a proper gate we expect to tighten
\nsupervision and minimize trafficking,\" Suwarna said.<\/p>\n
He added the gate would help end the isolation of several
\nremote areas near the border.<\/p>\n
Currently, there is only one guard post jointly run by both
\nthe Indonesian and Malaysian armies. A four-kilometer-long free
\nzone separates the countries.<\/p>\n
\"We will discuss the plan with the Malaysian authorities
\nduring our routine talks on Wednesday. We hope they will respond
\npositively to the plan,\" the governor said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-asks-countrys-borders-marked-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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