Tales from the Border
No less than 92 islands serve as Indonesia’s frontline, as do towns, villages and remote hamlets across land boundaries. The fate of these places resemble abandoned children: forgotten, isolated and unaffected by state policies. They suffer shortages—poor infrastructure, lack of water and irregular electricity—while on the other side of the border, bright lights and built-up towns indicate wealth and prosperity in neighboring countries. The following report describes life in remote border areas, a collaboration of Tempo English Edition and daily Koran Tempo.
September 1, 2010
THE border regions of Indonesia are like a neglected backyard. “If you go to Sebatik Island, the Indonesian and Malaysian territories differs like heaven and hell,” said Ryaas Rasyid, Minister of Regional Autonomy in the President Abdurrahman Wahid period. “Isn’t it embarrassing?”
Ryaas is not mistaken. In Sebatik, East Kalimantan, people are more familiar with Malaysia’s Petronas LPG they call ”tong ges” instead of Pertamina’s
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