Sipadan-Ligitan case won't recur

JAKARTA: Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda assured on Thursday that there would be no more loss of islands in the future as there was no more disputed islands in the country.

Indonesia lost Sipadan and Ligitan, two small islands off East Kalimantan, to Malaysia last December after a long legal battle at the Netherlands-based World Court, previously called the International Court of Justice.

"As long as the islands are in Indonesia's territory, there is no doubt about their ownership," Hassan said at a hearing with House Commission I for foreign and defense affairs here on Thursday.

He also said that his ministry fully backed the Indonesian Navy, which has exercised sovereignty over outlaying islands by erecting the country's national flag there.

Hassan said that outlaying islands would be developed as transmigration areas or tourist resorts. --JP