Tomy Winata to invest in disputed Batek island

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

Kupang military commander Col. Inf. Moeswarno Moesanip said on Tuesday that businessman Tomy Winata had plans to invest in the creation of tourism enterprises on Batek island, which is currently the object of a dispute between Indonesia and East Timor.

"Tomy had met me and offered to invest in Batek Island and turn it into a maritime tourist center," he said, adding that the Artha Graha Group boss would also invest in pearl farming and fisheries.

"I guarantee that the island legally belongs to Indonesia and I'll allow businesspeople to invest in the island," he added.

Tomy has been under the spotlight after thugs claiming to represent him attacked the Tempo office on March 8, demanding the retraction of an article that inferred that the businessman, who is known to have ties with military officers, had been involved in the February fire that devastated the Tanah Abang textile market in Central Jakarta.

East Timor has claimed that Batek island in Kupang regency is a part of Oecusi, an East Timor enclave in West Timor, as Batek island is off the coast of Oecusi.

The East Timor government submitted its claim to the island through Indonesia's representative office in Dili.

Moesanip said that the Indonesian Military would establish a security post on the island and deploy some troops there.