Govt, House told to debate border law

Govt, House told to debate border law

JAKARTA: The National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) will
organize a seminar on border issues in a bid to raise the need
for the government and the House of Representatives to deliberate
legislation on border areas.

"Problems in border areas continue to emerge because we do not
have any legislation that protects our territory. That was the
reason why judges at the International Tribunal in The Hague
ruled against us in the dispute over the Sipadan-Ligitan
islands," Lemhannas governor Ermaya Suradinata said.

Malaysia was granted sovereignty over the two islands in 2002.

Ermaya suggested that the government set up a bureau involving
the related ministries to deal with border issues, including how
to make an agreement with neighboring countries.

At least 10 islands are located on the border of Indonesia and
neighboring countries, which could potentially spark sovereignty
disputes. -- JP