Megawati secures tiny Nipah island<\/p>\n
Fadli and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Traumatized by the perceived loss of two islands from Indonesia's
\nterritory, President Megawati Soekarnoputri placed a plaque on
\nFriday at a location on a small island bordering Singapore.<\/p>\n
The 60-hectare Nipah island is only 10 minutes by boat from
\nthe city state, and at high tide, the island is completely
\nsubmerged by water.<\/p>\n
\"As an outer island of Indonesia we need to secure it and
\nmaintain clear borders with neighboring countries,\" Minister of
\nSettlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno, who accompanied
\nthe President, said.<\/p>\n
\"We will develop the island as a tourist resort and an
\nagribusiness site,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
The minister added that the government had allocated some Rp
\n100 billion (US$11.3million) for the reclamation project.<\/p>\n
The unclear border with the city state, and the recent
\ndecision to hand Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia, has led
\nto fears that the island may one day be claimed by another
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the two
\nislands to Malaysia in late 2002, citing that Malaysia had
\ndeveloped the islands.<\/p>\n
Megawati was on the last leg of a four-day trip that included
\nIran where she attended the D-8 Summit. She arrived in Singapore
\non Friday morning.<\/p>\n
The President was also accompanied by Minister of Maritime
\nAffairs and Fisheries Rokhmin Dahuri on her visit to the island.<\/p>\n
Aboard an Indonesian Navy ship, the presidential entourage
\nwent from Singapore straight to Nipah island, where the President
\nalso planted a casuarina tree.<\/p>\n
The government has been discussing measures to develop its
\nsmall islands that border neighboring countries for some time.
\nNipah has been chosen as the first island to be developed.<\/p>\n
Should Singapore continue with its reclamation project, it
\nwould eventually cross over into Indonesia's territory, Rokhmin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The President arrived in Jakarta later on Friday. She was
\nwelcomed by Vice President Hamzah Haz at the Halim Perdanakusumah
\nairport.<\/p>\n
Megawati is slated to leave the country again on Feb.25 to
\nattend the G-15 Summit in Venezuela, her last overseas trip
\nbefore the legislative election on March 11.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-secures-tiny-nipah-island-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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