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Marine battalion created on Setokok Island
The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has started the development of the Marine Corpsâ10 Infantry Battalion headquarters on Setokok Island, Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday, as part of its efforts to strengthen border security
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T
he Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has started the development of the Marine Corps'10 Infantry Battalion headquarters on Setokok Island, Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday, as part of its efforts to strengthen border security.
The marine battalion headquarters will occupy 37 hectares of areas and be built within 10 months.
'The headquarters will be an ideal prototype for marine battalions due to its position in being surrounded by the ocean,' said Navy chief of staff Adm.Marsetio during the first stone ceremony of the project construction.
It is expected that by Febuary 2014, all facilities such as helipad, shooting range and supporting buildings will be completed.
Marsetio said it was President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono himself that instructed the creation of a marine battalion in Riau Islands when he sailed to Nipah Island from Singapore.
According to the President, the marine battalion was aimed at improving the country's borders and islands' protection arrangements.
'Indonesia is the biggest archipelagic country in the world; therefore, it is necessary to create an ideal battalion,' said Marsetio.
The Riau Islands, he said, was an area that bordered the South China Sea and several neighboring countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam so it was possible for conflicts in border areas to occur in the future.
The ceremony was attended by Riau Islands governor Muhammad Sani and several high-rank officials from the TNI AL, the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) and the Defense Ministry. (fan/ebf)
