Military wants battalions in border areas

Military wants battalions in border areas

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The establishment of military battalions in border areas is
urgently needed due to the increasing threats to Indonesia from
domestic and overseas elements, the Army chief said on Monday.

"But, the development of battalions at the country's borders
must be in line with the support of funds from the government,"
Gen. Djoko Santoso was quoted by Antara as saying in a hearing
with House of Representatives Commission I.

The plan received support from Commission I on foreign and
defense affairs.

One battalion comprises between 700 and 1,000 soldiers.

Last week, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited West
Kalimantan, where he said the government would increase
development projects in border areas in a bid to stop or reduce
transnational crimes.

However, the President did not say whether the government
would station more security personnel in the border areas and
conflict regions.

The prevailing law stipulates that the Indonesian Military
(TNI)'s territorial role must be focused on border areas to
thwart external threats to the country.

Djoko said the military's strategic units in several border
areas outside Java island were not independently capable of
confronting various kinds of local and overseas threats and
disturbances.

For instance, he added, the Wirabuana Military Command
overseeing Sulawesi island has no an air defense artillery unit,
for which it has to rely on forces from other areas to confront
internal and external threats.

Djoko said the Army was tasked with defending Indonesia's land
territory, including several border areas.

It should therefore enhance its defense composition in every
region in order for it to be capable of facing such threats, he
added.

Djoko told the hearing presided over by Commission I chairman
Theo L. Sambuaga that plans to establish military battalions at
the borders cannot be fully realized.

"The realization is just 30 percent. The human resources are
ready, but the provision of weaponry and military barracks for
the battalions are not," the Army chief said while urging the
government to provide the necessary infrastructure.

In response, Theo said Commission I would urge the government
to allocate a budget to develop battalions at the country's
borders and conflict areas.

Djoko also said the Army was preparing to mobilize troops near
several areas bordering Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.