The government has plans to develop 12 outermost inhabited islands, which is said have abundant but yet undeveloped natural resources, says Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry official. Seeing so many cases happened regarding to border disputes, I think it is time to be more concern about our outermost islands, since Indonesia is an archipelago country. There will be many countries try to take advantages such as committing smuggling even claiming the island as theirs.

We have an experience of losing Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia on Dec. 17 2002, at the International Court of Justice. This has led to nationwide popular disappointment and criticism of the government. The big reason why Malaysia manage to win these islands dispute from Indonesia the existing infrastructure at those two islands has been started by the Malaysian country so that they are capable to assure the International Court that we (Malaysian people) have right of these islands regardless Indonesian government claimed that the two islands belong to Indonesian territory.

The outermost islands are not becoming isolated and inhabited if only the government realize the benefits of giving more attention to it. I prefer to use the word “forefront” instead of “outermost” island. For me “outermost” have tendency of abandonment. Regarding to the forefront island amid the border disputes among countries in the world, Indonesian government must be aware that the dignity of one country is there when other countries are able to appreciate our territory. Developing these islands show the seriousness of the government. It economically attract the people from other places can stay and create businesses. In term of tourism, the improvement of all infrastructures will attract many tourists coming, so these are the benefits of putting more attention to these forefront islands.