Mega asks country's borders marked

Mega asks country's borders marked

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Rusman, Jakarta/Samarinda

President Megawati Soekarnoputri ordered on Monday local
governments whose territories share borders with neighboring
countries to build monuments to mark the country's borders.

Speaking to key players in the tourism industry at the State
Palace, Megawati said Indonesia would soon issue a new map of the
country, with clear borders.

"I do not want the country to lose more land. So, do not take
the issue of border markers lightly," the President said. "To
ensure the border markers stay, I urge regional governments close
to the border to build monuments to mark our boundaries with
neighboring countries."

Megawati's administration has been working on the settlement
of border disputes with neighboring countries since Indonesia
lost the legal battle against Malaysia over its jurisdiction of
Sipadan and Ligitan islands early last year.

The government has also received reports of certain parties
who moved border markers in Kalimantan several kilometers toward
Malaysian territory in order to facilitate illegal logging
activities.

"We are going to continue negotiations with neighboring
countries before we can produce the new map of Indonesia,"
Megawati said.

Separately, the East Kalimantan administration announced a
plan to open a border crossing point between Indonesia and
Malaysia in Nunukan regency to improve the supervision of the
movement of people and goods across the border.

Governor Suwarna Abdul Fatah said the border crossing would
cost his administration around Rp 200 billion (US$22.2million).
The province borders the East Malaysian state of Sabah.

"With or without the gate, there are always people and goods
crossing the border. With a proper gate we expect to tighten
supervision and minimize trafficking," Suwarna said.

He added the gate would help end the isolation of several
remote areas near the border.

Currently, there is only one guard post jointly run by both
the Indonesian and Malaysian armies. A four-kilometer-long free
zone separates the countries.

"We will discuss the plan with the Malaysian authorities
during our routine talks on Wednesday. We hope they will respond
positively to the plan," the governor said.