Prison island opens for tourits

Prison island opens for tourits

CILACAP, Central Java: Nusakambangan, feared as a dreaded
prison island where hardcore criminals are locked up, was
officially opened to tourists over the weekend.

Unlike other tourist attraction, Nusakambangan is "special" in
that visitors get an escort from the local justice ministry
office. Visitors have to come in groups.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen.
(ret.) Soesilo Soedarman said the government will retain the
island's function as a high security prison.

"There must be clear-cut boundaries between the prison complex
and those areas used by tourists," Soesilo said, seeing off the
first group of tourists from Intan port to Nusakambangan.

On Saturday, Soesilo, Minister of Post, Tourism and
Telecommunication Joop Ave, Central Java governor Soewardi
Director General for Correctional Institution Thahir Abdullah
signed a memorandum of agreement on the tourism development.

Under the agreement, the project will have a three-year
probational phase. It will go ahead if the project is profitable
and poses no threat to security.

Nusakambangan's main attraction is its beautiful beaches,
washed by the waves of the Indian Ocean.

The ministry of justice has a 50 percent stake in the project,
the provincial government 20 percent and the Cilacap regency
government 30 percent.

Joop said many entrepreneurs have been keen to build hotels on
the island to support the project but the government will not
allow private investors to come in until the prospects are clear.

"If the probation period passed off successfully, investors
may build hotels on the beaches like they do in Bali," he said.

The government allows floating restaurants on Segara Anakan
beach. Cilacap regency is also planning to build sky-lifts that
will allow tourists to enjoy the island's beaches and prisons
from the air. (wah/pan)