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Indonesia to Build Military Base in Natuna Islands

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Oleh Masfardi, Senin, 4 April 2016 | 14:48 WIB - Redaktur: Penni Patmawati Rusman - 1K

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesian House of Representative (DPR) Commission I Speaker Mahfudz Sidik during a meeting with US House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Matt Salmon explained that Indonesia is currently building a military base in the Natuna islands and other outermost islands.

He explained that the construction of the military bases is not initiated by the recently intensifying South China Sea conflict.
 
The DPR member from West Java VIII electoral district explained that the construction is part of a five-year strategic plan for the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI). The existence of military bases on the Indonesia’s outermost islands is required to improve the sovereign country’s quality of defense.
 
"I also explained earlier that the construction of Indonesia’s military base on the Natuna islands is not related to the recent incident or to the South China Sea conflict. It is initiated as a part of TNI 2015-2019 strategic plan, which is to develop four outermost islands as a military base," Mahfudz said, Sunday (4/3).
 
He said that the construction is fully funded independently by the country. It is targeted that by 2017 the construction of four military bases in the outermost islands will be completed. The military base will consist of three dimensions of TNI; Army, Navy and Air Force.
 
"We fund the entire construction our selves. The construction in the four outermost islands will cover military bases for Army, Navy and Air Force, so it is scheduled to be completed in 2017," said Mahfudz.
 
He also explained that DPR fully supports the Indonesian government, through Foreign Ministry to deliver a letter of protest to the Chinese government for urging the Indonesian government to release one of their detained ship that entered Natuna waters.
 
"DPR fully supports the government to deliver a letter of protest to Chinese government and to remind China to not provoke Indonesia. Indonesia has always taken peaceful initiative and lead peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue," said Mahfudz.
 
Many people said that the Chinese ship which enter the Natuna waters on March 19, was not merely for illegal fishing cause, but part of China’s systematic attempts to occupy the Natuna Islands. (Translator: Wilda Stiana)