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Indonesia reinforces its command over Natuna waters through military bases
The government is set to build military bases in Natuna, one of Indonesia's outermost regions located in the Riau Islands, to send stern messages that it is an absolute part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said on Monday.
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo (center) stands on deck of Indonesian Navy ship KRI Imam Bonjol 383 after chairing a limited cabinet meeting on board the ship on the waters of Natuna Islands, Riau Islands on June 23. (Kompas)
T
he government is set to build military bases in Natuna, one of Indonesia's outermost regions located in the Riau Islands, to send stern messages that it is an absolute part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said on Monday.
"The NKRI territories cannot be compromised, it's already whole and fixed," Gatot said as quoted by Antara news agency.
The government is finalizing plans to build an air base for the Air Force, a navy base for the Navy, as well as an Army base in Natuna expected to be completed within two to three years, he added.
Natuna, with its waters rich in natural resources and its location sitting close to the disputed South China Sea, stands at risk to also be vied by the neighboring countries surrounding it, as evidenced by fishing skirmishes with China earlier this year.
The outermost islands in the Natuna archipelago have been established as the base points for the outermost regions of Indonesia as stipulated in the 1957 Juanda Declaration. The statement is also reiterated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), after it was registered by the government in 2009. (liz/rin)
