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Minister Prabowo to deploy more ships to protect Natuna
Former minister Susi Pudjiastuti called the current policy on Natuna, which includes the deployment of warships, a "drama".
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Indonesian navy vessels sail through the Natuna waters off the Riau Islands. (Antara/-)
D
efense Minister Prabowo Subianto will deploy more ships to protect the Natuna waters near Indonesia’s northern maritime border by relocating existing vessels operating in other locations to the area and purchasing an ocean-going vessel (OGV) from Denmark.
The plans have been made due to reports of illegal fishing by foreign ships at Natuna’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recently, Indonesia filed a protest against Beijing for alleged territorial violations by a Chinese coastguard vessel around Natuna.
Prabowo presented both plans during a closed-door meeting with the House of Representatives’ Commission I overseeing defense on Monday, a member of the commission confirmed.
"Yes, we discussed those [issues]. The OGV will be used for Indonesian Navy or Maritime Security Agency [Bakamla] missions. It will be included in the ministry’s modernization plan,” lawmaker Dave Laksono of the Golkar Party said.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan previously mentioned that the minister was planning to purchase new vessels from Denmark, citing the need to prevent future encroachment into the Natuna waters.
Both Dave and Luhut said they did not know how many new vessels the government would buy.
However, Luhut said that the purchase would be made after the government finished an omnibus law on the Bakamla, which – if realized – would settle overlapping roles in domestic maritime security and strengthen the agency.
