Indonesia mulls lighthouse in disputed waters

Jakarta (MI) : The Indonesian Navy (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Ankatan Laut, or TNI-AL) has urged the Indonesian government to construct a lighthouse in waters off Bintan Island to demarcate an area currently in dispute with Malaysia.

The area, known internationally as Carter Shoal, lies approximately 5 km to the north of Bintan Island and is identified by the co-ordinates 1° 16' 00" N, 104° 22' 00" E. Disputes over the territory came about as borders between both countries were not completely resolved by the British and Dutch governments when they left the region at the onset of Malaysia's and Indonesia's independence.

Speaking to Indonesian media on 9 September, Colonel Fauzi, Assistant Commander of Operations at the Tanjung Pinang naval base, described the area as rich with fishery resources and increasingly being intruded upon by vessels from Malaysia.

IHS Jane's understands that the suggestion is currently being studied by the Indonesian government agency overseeing the administration of the country's borders, Badan Nasional Pengelola Perbatasan (BNPP).

Besides Carter Shoal, Indonesia and Malaysia were recently embroiled over another longstanding maritime dispute in the waters near Tanjung Datu, West Kalimantan on Borneo Island. Tensions over the territory escalated after six Malaysian ships, escorted by a Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) vessel, were allegedly spotted constructing a lighthouse in an area claimed by both countries on 19 May. Malaysia has since halted work on the partially constructed structure.

As a result of the Tanjung Datu incident, the TNI-AL deployed three vessels, the Kakap-class offshore patrol vessel KRI Barakuda , Todak-class guided missile attack craft KRI Lemadang , and Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I)-class corvette Sutedi Senoputra to patrol the disputed waters as an interim measure. Indonesia has also announced that it will construct a new naval base to safeguard its maritime interests in the area.

COMMENT

Should the Indonesian central government approve of plans to construct the lighthouse, it could open up a new flashpoint in naval relations between both countries. Indonesia rejected a Malaysian move to construct a lighthouse in disputed territory off Borneo in May 2014. Moves to do the same for the waters off Bintan are unlikely to go down well with Kuala Lumpur.

Sumber : Janes