Navy base to be upgraded

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

Security concerns have prompted Navy Headquarters to upgrade a naval base in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara province, and raise its security status. The upgrade will enable the base to step up measures against illegal fishing and fuel smuggling in areas bordering Indonesia, Australia and East Timor, a military officer said on Tuesday.

The status upgrade will be made official on Thursday in a ceremony in Kupang, said Kupang naval base commander Col. Ari Atmadja. The ceremony will be led by Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Slamet Soebijanto.

The upgrade will also result in a reshuffle in the naval base leadership, with First. Adm. Syahrin Abdurrahman replacing Col. Ari Atmadja as base chief.

The base will get several warships and patrol ships as well as surveillance equipment in help it better detect security threats and increase the capability of the Navy to uncover illegal activities in its waters and capture the offenders, such as fuel smugglers.

It will also enhance the Navy's capability to deal with trespassers in Indonesian waters, said Col. Ari.

The main Kupang naval base will still oversee waters in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and Maluku province.

Separately, Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Zamroni, overseeing East Nusa Tenggara, said the Army would not follow suit by upgrading the Wirasakti Military Command, which oversees Bali and East Nusa Tenggara province.