The Jakarta Post, 09 October 2006

The management of development in border zones Anak Agung Banyu Perwita, Bandung

The management of development in our border issues, which to date has not been optimal, is a crucial issue in Indonesia today. This internal problem and the possibility of neighboring countries claiming part of our national territory have increasingly turned this issue into a priority for the Indonesian government.

The 2003 Indonesian Defense White Paper, for example, noted that we still have demarcation problems with 10 neighboring states. Among the problems are one’s with Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Timor Leste and the Republic of Palau. A number of these problems could, of course, have adverse consequences for various aspects of our national security, including the military, political, economic and social aspects.

So, how exactly should we view the question of national boundaries in the context of our national security and contemporary international relations?

Even though the phenomena of globalization has had a marked effect on contemporary international relations, these continue to be dominated by traditional issues, such as state borders.

Globalization has not only made territoriality in many states increasingly less relevant, but also questions the sovereignty and territoriality of nation states.

In most cases in developing countries, the question of state boundaries is one of the indicators whether the state has turned into a weak or even a failed state. This, for example, is marked by the inability of the state in controlling its territorial boundaries. Further, the lack of effective administration on the part of some states in managing their national borders represents a separate problem that adds to the complicated traditional problem of state boundaries.

A limited capacity to manage and protect its boundaries will have real impacts to both internally and externally. The complexity of border problems could not only lead to intrastate conflict/war but also trigger interstate conflict and war. This is mainly due to the fact that border issues are highly pertinent to the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Traditionally, every nation state will be ready to do anything, including go to war, to maintain its sovereignty.

Further, as border issues do not only include the question of physical territory, but also covers various aspects like (natural) resources and pride of identity which in certain contexts becomes an important factor in national and local pride. At this point, the border issue becomes a significant part of the national security agenda. Hence, the management of national borders will play a crucial role in the national development agenda.

In one of the best example in dealing with the border issue with a new-born country, Timor Leste, Indonesia has established the Technical Sub-Committee on Border Demarcation and Regulation with Timor Leste. This forms part of the Joint Border Committee between the two countries and is intended to monitor and protect the border. Indonesia has always been supportive of all activities aimed at finding a solution to the determination of the borders between Indonesia and Timor Leste, while also facilitating the activities of communities residing along the border.

For many developing countries, like Indonesia, for example, the national border issue frequently produces a dilemma. The defense aspect, which refers to the ability to overcome various military threats coming from abroad, is mixed with non-military threats.

Unlike developed nation states, developing states face various problems in the economic, cultural, social and political aspects that are complicated and closely related to internal stability and the ability of the defense forces to protect them from external military threats.

Such related problems reveal the significance of non-military issues to the capacity to protect national security. Besides, a failed state that cannot protect its national borders will face various insecurity problems arising from non-state actors, such as transnational organized crime and terrorist groups that frequently try to exploit territorial boundaries to plan, prepare and conduct their terrorist activities.

A clear illustration of this is the way in which transnational crime organizations and terrorist groups make use of the border regions between Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, including for the launching of attacks on Indonesian territory over the last couple of years.

The maritime border of southern Thailand from the province of Satun to Sumatra (Riau islands), and the maritime territory of Malaysia around Langkawi-Penang provide favorite routes for the flow of funds and sending of weapons and explosives for terrorist activities.

Furthermore, the border region of the Southern Philippine from Zamboanga and Davao (Mindanao), toward the islands of Sulu, Sarawak and Nunukan in Kalimantan, and from the Sangihe Talaud islands in North Sulawesi to Maluku and central Sulawesi is believed to host the main routes for the supply of terrorist weapons into the eastern part of Indonesia.

To conclude, the complicated character of the national border issue, which is related to various types of threat, the wider field of national security, limited resources and the perception of threats, requires a more comprehensive policy framework. Internally, the effective management of national territorial boundaries will not only strengthen nation-state building but also contribute to the creation of regional security. This can be be achieved by establishing cooperation with the relevant neighboring states. But, of course, we must also be able to take cognizance of various other dimensions, such as the economic, social, legal and diplomatic fields in managing our national borders.

The writer is the dean of the School of Social and Political Sciences, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung.