President to establish border agency

The Jakarta Post, Sat, 12/26/2009 12:48 PM

JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will establish the National Agency on Border Management (BNPP) to better manage the country's border areas with neighboring countries.

Home Ministry spokesman Saut Situmorang told Antara on Friday that the new agency would be established based on a presidential decree to be issued in January.

The new agency, Situmorang said, will coordinate border management issues with all related ministries and agencies including Home Ministry and Foreign Ministry.

The new agency will also coordinate with local administrations in the border areas.

Indonesia shares 3,137-kilometer land borders with three countries, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste.

Indonesia also shares sea borders with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Palau, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste. - JP