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