Navy warns of imminent disputes over 12 remote islands

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Navy warned on Wednesday that Indonesia could become embroiled in new disputes with neighboring countries over a number of islands located in border areas if it did not take adequate measures to assert its sovereignty.

In a speech to a seminar here, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh said the Navy was paying special attention to at least 12 islands located close to neighboring countries.

"There is a possibility that the 12 islands could spark conflicts with several neighboring countries if Indonesia doesn't show its ownership," he said.

Bernard said that most of the islands had no inhabitants.

The islands include Rondo island in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam province, which is near the maritime boundary with India, and Berhala island in North Sumatra, which is close to Malaysia.

Others are Nipa island in Riau province and Sekatung island, which are located near Singapore and Vietnam respectively.

In the north of Indonesia, there are three islands: Marore, Miangas and Marampit -- all in North Sulawesi province -- which lie close to the maritime boundary with the Philippines, while in the east of the country, three other islands, Fanildo, Bras and Fani -- all in Papua province -- could be claimed by Micronesia.

The last two islands are Batek in East Nusa Tenggara and Dana, which could be disputed by East Timor and Australia.

Bernard said that conflicts could begin with other countries, when foreign fishermen, for example, established shelters or foreign firms started prospecting for natural resources, or even foreign military forces conducted exercises on the islands.

"If we become aware of such activities, we will respond to it with military action to reassert our sovereignty," he warned.

"On the other hand, if we don't find out about these activities quickly, then the problem could turn into one of a foreign claim or occupation, which would lead to open conflict with Indonesia."

First Adm. M. Jurianto, from naval headquarters, said the country's experience in 2002 of losing Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia could reoccur if Indonesia failed to manage its islands properly.

"That's why we have to anticipate these possibilities. The Navy has increased patrols ... and set up guard posts on the islands," said Jurianto.

Sipadan and Ligitan islands in the Sulawesi Sea were awarded to Malaysia in December 2002 by the International Court of Justice after a long legal battle.

The Indonesian Navy regularly complains that it does not have enough resources to monitor all of the country's waters.

The Navy has only 117 vessels, with an average age of 30 years, to guard Indonesia's 81,000-kilometer coastline and six million square kilometers of ocean, while Thailand, for example, has 151 ships to guard its 3,219 kilometers of coastline and 575,000 square kilometers of ocean.

According to the Navy, it should have at least 138 ships to provide a minimum level of security, and 190 ships to provide a good level of security.