National

2000 Navy Personnel to Secure Waters of NTT
Friday, 25 November, 2005 | 09:11 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara:Indonesian Navy headquarters have stationed at least 2,000 personnel to secure the waters of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), which are the Third Indonesian Islands Sea Lane (ALKI III) and an international sea route.

The stationing of these personnel was carried out together with the opening of the Indonesian Navy Kupang Main Base IX at by Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Slamet Soebijanto at El Nusa port in the Bolok industrial region, on Thursday (24/11).

According to Soebijanto, the Kupang Navy Main Base IX has the main task of securing the waters of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and some parts of Maluku and West Nusa Tenggara from illegal fishing by foreign fleets.

The East Nusa Tenggara region borders directly with East Timor and Australia where of human trafficking, illegal fishing and smuggling crimes are likely to take place.

“Therefore, the stationing of Navy personnel and the upgrading of Kupang Navy Base into Main Base IX is expected to help prevent criminal acts,” Soebijanto said at a press conference after officially opening the base.

The Navy Chief of Staff added that at 81,000 square kilometers, Indonesia had the longest stretch of ocean area in the world.

However, the Indonesian Navy only has 114 ships and 90,000 personnel, which has caused difficulties in maximizing security.

In 2004, Soebijanto continued, Indonesian Navy headquarters targeted a fleet with at least 280 warships.

The Indonesian Navy will also pay special attention to regions that border directly with foreign countries where there is the potential for conflict, such as Sangihe Talaud, Natuna, Tarakan, Papua and the Malacca Straits. (Jems de Fortuna-Tempo News Room)