The management of the state border has been considered not optimal and less integrated. Even in some fields conflicts arise among various groups. Therefore, in the era of regional autonomy the handling of the border area which is the domain of central government is about time to be improved.
In the view of Ir. Untoro Sardjito, MM, the border area is still positioned as an underdeveloped region, so that cases such as illegal logging, illegal fishing and trafficking often occur. "This area is usually functioned only as a safety belt, not as a gateway of the state," said Assistant Deputy of Economic Infrastructure and Social Welfare to Deputy of Infrastructure Management in Border Areas, National Council for Border Management (BNPP) during the workshop entitled Ideas for States Border Area Development on Tuesday (14/12).
The poor in the border area, said Untoro, is due to the accumulation of various factors. Among others, the low quality of human resources, lack of physical, social, economy and government infrastructures. In addition, the productivity of the society is still very low and not optimal in the utilization of natural resources.
In this area access to public services is still very minimal, and lack of sufficient land and sea access. Similarly, the means of communication is also still very limited. "So, the society orientation tends towards neighboring countries which resulted in the degradation of nationalism," he said in the UGM Multimedia Room.
Therefore, in the 2010-2014 RPJMN project, Government will develop these border areas by changing the direction of development policy from inward-looking orientation to be outward looking. Thus, the border area can be used as a gateway of economic and trade activity with neighboring countries. "For the development implementation, in addition to using the security approach, welfare and the environment approach is also needed, especially for small islands on the border that so far lack attention," he said.
As a new institution which was launched in September 2010, the National Agency for Border Management indeed will oversee all of these. Even according to Presidential Decree no 12 of 2010, BNPP was indeed in charge for that purpose.
BNPP also serves as coordinator of policy establishment and implementation of development, management and utilization of state borders and border areas. "(BNPP serves) To conduct assertive facilitation, maintenance and security of state borders, and taking inventory of potential resources and recommendations for establishment of economic defense, socio-cultural, environmental development zones, and other zones in the border region," Untoro explained.
Currently, there are 12 State Gateway Districts which should receive priority attention. Among other there are 4 State Gateways border areas in the West Kalimantan, 2 State Gateways border areas in East Kalimantan, 3 State Gateways border areas in the East Nusa Tenggara and 3 State Gateways border areas in Papua. In each of these regions, the problems vary, from social conditions of society to security issues. People in these border areas are in dire need of serious attention because they are isolated, poor and in need of infrastructure development. Therefore, the programs that are proclaimed by BNPP include physical infrastructure, economic infrastructure, public welfare, economic infrastructure, education and health. "That is the priority, because it is this area that will serve the public, such as district and village offices," he said.
Executive Secretary, Drs. Djoko Moerdiyanto, MA, welcomed the organization of this workshop. From this workshop, he hopes to get input from BNPP regarding the various problems encountered in the state border region. "(It is) Mainly about the strategies that will be developed, and various programs to be implemented, especially its supporting infrastructure," he said.
Besides Deans and academics from the faculty, this workshop is also attended by researchers and students.