HOUSE URGES DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY BASE IN NATUNA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 25 (Antara) - The House of Representatives (DPR) has stressed on the need to build a military base on Natuna Island as part of its defense system in the central part of Indonesia.          DPR's Commission I on Defense and Foreign Affairs raised the issue following an incident in which the Indonesian Marine Resources and Maritime Ministry's (KKP's) patrol boat Hiu 11 was attempting to arrest a Chinese fishing vessel caught poaching in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) recently.          Commission I Chairman Mahfud Siddiq believes that a military base on the island of Natuna is of key importance as part of the defense system in the central region of the country, which shares its maritime borders with several nations.          "The development of a military base on Natuna Island is important for the defense system in the central region of Indonesia, which shares its borders with many countries in the South China Sea," Siddiq stated in Jakarta on Thursday (March 24).          Siddiq noted that the development of a military base in Natuna will reinforce Indonesia's existing regional defense systems in the eastern and western parts of the country. This will help improve the military's mobility.          The lawmaker remarked that the plan to develop a military base in Natuna had been made since 2015.          "Commission I had once discussed the plan, including its budget," Siddiq pointed out.

MILITARY, POLICE NEED COMMUNICATIONS IN GRASS ROOTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 9 (Antara) - Thursday's attack by military personnel on a police station in South Sumatra, has raised many quarters' concern, blaming the incident on the lack of communications of the military and police in the grass-root level.          "We are sad and regret the incident. The attack on a police station in Ogan Kemering Ulu (OKU) was just another incident which involves the two institutions. Members of the two institutions have often clashed in the past," Tjatur Sapto Edi, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission III on defense affairs, said in Yogyakarta on Friday.          The same concern was also expressed by Hamidah Abdurrachman, member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas).  She said the acts of the military personnel who attacked, destroyed and set fire to the police station were something that stabbed the police institution.          "The commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) should take stern actions against the TNI members immediately," Hamidah Abdurrachman said.           A group of military members from Artillery Battalion 15 of South Sumatra's Sriwijaya Military Command II attacked the OKU police headquarters, setting it on fire and injuring a number of police officers.