Cirebon against territorial split

CIREBON, West Java: The Cirebon regency administration, West Java, will reject any attempt to divide its territory into two regencies -- West and East Cirebon.

Cirebon deputy regent Dedi Supardi said that for whatever reason, like territorial expansion or public aspirations, splitting up the regency would not be tolerated.

He made the statement in response to a public discourse on the division of Cirebon.

With a total area of 990,36 square kilometers and a population of 2.13 million, Cirebon regency's integrity cannot be disrupted, he said.

"During the era of regional autonomy, I will struggle wholeheartedly to defend the integrity of Cirebon regency," Dedi added.

He claimed that the idea of splitting up Cirebon was merely because of envy in that the eastern part of the regency was less advanced. "It's not a solution. We can develop the eastern part by boosting agrobusiness," he said. --JP