Singapore Indonesia border dispute built on
sand
Mark Forbes, Sydney Morning Herald Correspondent in Jakarta
February 17, 2007
Sand is stirring up a diplomatic storm between Indonesia and
Singapore, exposing rifts over disputed borders and Indonesian
graft suspects seeking refuge in Singapore.
Indonesia has banned sand exports that are vital to the Singaporean
construction boom. Earlier this month, Indonesia claimed sand
mining was erasing small islands, shrinking its territory, while
Singapore was using the sand to reclaim land and expand.
But senior Indonesian officials yesterday confirmed the ban was
also aimed at forcing Singapore to sign an extradition treaty.
Several Indonesian businessmen accused of large-scale corruption
have fled to Singapore to escape prosecution.
The admission provoked a rebuff from Singapore's Foreign Minister,
George Yeo, who said the link was counter-productive and suggested
shortcomings in Indonesia's judicial system were hampering the
extradition treaty.
Mr Yeo said negotiating the treaty was difficult because if
Indonesia sought extraditions, Singaporean courts would consider
the conduct of the resulting trials. "Which means that, inevitably,
a judge in Singapore would have to examine the conduct of their
police and their judges," he said.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry's director general for Asia, the
Pacific and Africa, Primo Joelianto, said Singapore had to
understand both countries needed each other. "Besides concern about
rising environmental deterioration in the areas, the ban also aims
to push them in extradition and some border negotiations."
Indonesia had become very impatient with the slow progress of
extradition and defence agreements, as well as border negotiations,
Mr Joelianto said. The extradition treaty was vital to
anti-corruption crackdown, Indonesia officials have claimed.
Several Indonesian bankers accused of stealing hundreds of millions
of dollars are believed to be hiding in Singapore.
The ban has been applied to all sand exports, but is focused on
Singapore, the largest importer. Indonesia has reportedly sent
eight warships to monitor its border with Singapore and enforce the
ban.
Mr Yeo has denied Singapore was using Indonesian sand imports for
land reclamation, stating it was utilised for construction. The
sand came from inland areas, not island beaches, he said.
Singapore is releasing sand from government stockpiles to minimise
the impact of the ban, which analysts have warned could have
serious implications for its construction industry.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has also objected to Singaporeans buying
islands in the neighbouring province of Riau. Navy commander Djoko
Sumaryono said the purchases raised security concerns.
Vice Admiral Djoko said he had ordered an investigation into the
illegal and "rampant" sales. "If the local administration is found
to be incapable of safeguarding its areas we will take over
security matters there."
Under a presidential decree, the administration must erect a name
plate and raise the national flag on each of the Riau islands to
signal they were Indonesian territory and subject to local
regulations, he said.
