Antara 9 Jan 10;
Surabaya (ANTARA News) - Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he would soon form a National Agency for Border Management to ensure the security of 200 outlying islands through military and non-military approaches.
"The defense tasks of the national agency will be managed by the Defense Ministry while its economic and social tasks will be overseen by the home affairs minister. But we will continue to monitor the implementation of the agency`s tasks," Purnomo said at a function to inaugurate the Veteran National Development University (UPN) here on Saturday.
On the occasion also attended by political and military observer Muhadjir Effendy MAP, the defense minister said the formation of the agency was a strategic measure to safeguard national sovereignty over the 200 outlying islands.
"The economic and other activities the agency is to initiate on the islands will be an effective form of defense against any possible attempt by other countries to lay territorial claims to any of the islands," Purnomo said.
The existence of the economic and other activities on the islands would be an effective strategy to maintain the integrity and sovereignty of Indonesia.
"Therefore all related institutions such as the Defense Ministry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, Forestry Ministry, and other departments should be in one accord to maintain the country`s sovereignty through non-military appraches," Purnomo said.
Meanwhile, military observer Muhadjir Effendy MAP of Malang Muhammadiyah University said there should be a radical change in relation with the security at the outlying islands and the borderline with other countries.
"Such a security measure should be made immediately because certain neighboring countries have already tried to make claims to a number of the outlying islands," Effendy said.
Therefore, he added, the government should provide funds and make integrated efforts to ensure the security at border areas across the country. Also, he said, the number of security personnel in border areas should be increased.(*)
