Navy to build new base in Papua

SORONG, West Papua: The Indonesian Navy plans to build a new base in the regency of Fakfak mainly, to cope with illegal fishing, a senior Navy officer said on Monday.

Sorong naval base chief Maj. Kris Sri Hod said the new base would be built on a 1.2 hectare plot of land near Wagom beach, which he described as strategically located.

Because of the size of the province's surrounding sea and its frequent security problems, the Navy decided to build a new base, he said.

He said that local fishermen were reluctant to sail out for fear of confronting the larger but illegal trawlers that were roaming the sea.

Illegal loggers also smuggle their timber by sea, and had been benefiting from the lack of sea patrols, he added. -- Antara