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Indonesian Military to build naval base in Papua
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, flanked by Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo (left) and National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian (right), rides an Anoa amphibious tank produced by state-owned land systems and weapons maker PT Pindad to cross a lake located inside the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, recently. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
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ndonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said his side planned to improve the distribution of personnel across the country's territories, especially in the eastern part of Indonesia, including in Papua.
"We hope military personnel and military bases are no longer concentrated around Java, but also in the border areas so that those [bases] help create new economic centers and trigger development," Gatot was quoted as saying by Antara on Thursday at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
When asked to give further details about the plan, Gatot said the TNI would focus on distributing naval personnel first, while the expansion of Army and Air Force bases had yet to be planned.
(Read also: Indonesia reinforces its command over Natuna waters through military bases)
"Currently, the TNI has only been focused on [developing] the Eastern Fleet. We need to establish a new fleet in Papua," Gatot added.
Currently, the TNI has the Eastern Fleet based in Surabaya and Western Fleet in Jakarta. (dmr)
