President tells people to watch RI's borders<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Disappointed at the recent loss of two islands to Malaysia,
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri told Indonesians on Tuesday
\nevening to be more alert over border issues.<\/p>\n
\"Learning from this experience, I ask the people of Indonesia
\nand all those in the government, be they in Jakarta or in the
\nregions, to carefully observe similar cases in other places,\" the
\nPresident said in her new year address to the nation.<\/p>\n
Indonesia lost the Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in
\na ruling by the UN The Hague-based International Court of Justice
\non Dec. 17.<\/p>\n
\"No matter how difficult the circumstances, there must be
\neffective steps so that this experience does not repeat itself,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
The dispute with Malaysia over the two islands stretched back
\nto the late sixties and over four presidencies. But their loss
\ncomes as a particular blow to the nationalistic-leaning Megawati,
\nwho, in 1999, lambasted then president B.J. Habibie's move to
\nallow former province East Timor to vote for independence.<\/p>\n
Legislators have drawn parallels with East Timor's break away,
\nand questioned Megawati's commitment on the issue of territorial
\nintegrity.<\/p>\n
Although tiny, Sipadan and Ligitan are said to be rich in
\nnatural resources. Sipadan's famous diving attractions have also
\nmade it one of Malaysia's key tourist destinations.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's lack of administrative control over the islands
\nhas led the UN court to rule in Malaysia's favor.<\/p>\n
Now Megawati said she wanted more effective control over the
\nnation's territory. \"The area of a country, no matter how small
\nor far it may be, represents a constitutional element of the
\nwhole of that country,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"The problem is not just about legality, or who is using or
\noccupying it (the area), but is also a matter of territorial
\nintegrity and that of national pride.\"<\/p>\n
Legal experts have urged the government to secure border deals
\nwith neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
Etty R. Agoes, a legal expert at the Ministry of Maritime
\nAffairs and Fisheries, said Indonesia shared maritime borders
\nwith 10 countries but just six of them had signed an agreement on
\nIndonesia's coastlines. Indonesia also has land borders with
\nthree countries.<\/p>\n
Etty. however, did not elaborate what the bordering countries
\nwere.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-tells-people-to-watch-ris-borders-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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