The Rat Line In The Indonesian Border Area Needs Optimal Supervision

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian during a working visit to the Jagoi Babang Cross-Border Post (PLBN), Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, Wednesday (13/12/2023). BETWEEN/Fath Putra Mulya

BENGKAYANG - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) as well as Head of the National Border Management Agency (BNPP) Tito Karnavian said his party was coordinating with the TNI/Polri in supervising the rat lanes in border areas.

However, he said, the TNI/Polri needed community assistance to maximize the supervision of the rat lane because the border area was still prone to the covert cross-border entry route.

"We will definitely coordinate with TNI/Polri friends. However, the TNI/Polri cannot maintain all rat lanes. The strength of the personnel will not be sufficient so it requires community assistance," Tito said on the sidelines of his working visit at the Jagoi Babang State Border Post (PLBN), Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, Wednesday, December 13.

Tito called the rat route one of the vulnerabilities on the land border. The vulnerability occurred on the island of Kalimantan which borders Malaysia and on the island of Papua which borders Papua New Guinea.

"One of the vulnerabilities of the Indonesian land route, yes, especially in Kalimantan and Papua New Guinea, there are many rat routes, and they are vulnerable," he added.

He emphasized that the vulnerability is in terms of cross-people or across goods.

"Yes, if it's good. If it's not good, it's dangerous," said the Head of BNPP.

Previously, Deputy for State Region Management of BNPP Robert Simbolon explained that his party had made observations related to the rat route, especially in West Kalimantan.

Robert said the number of rat lanes is quite large in the province. BNPP observations in 2020 found 29 unofficial crossing points or rat lanes in Sambas and Bengkayang Regencies.

In 2022 observations, BNPP found and mapped 25 rat lane points in Sanggau Regency. During 2023 observations, in Kapuas Hulu Regency, it was found that there were 24 rat lanes plus 3 new lane points.

The head of BNPP who is also the Minister of Home Affairs visited PLBN Jagoi Babang to check the final ahead of the inauguration of the boundary tapal.

He said the results of the check would later be submitted to President Joko Widodo.

Jagoi Babang became the last PLBN he visited among the five PLBNs that had been completed and operated, namely PLBN Serasan, PLBN Yettkun, PLBN Napan, and PLBN Sebatik.

"I will say this, it's up to the President when he wants to inaugurate it, then whether to inaugurate the five one or maybe also wave two, have an impact, maybe three, make one, or maybe five to be one," he said.

However, Tito said he would suggest that only PLBN be the most prepared to be inaugurated directly by the head of state. One of the most prepared, he said, was PLBN Jagoi Babang.

"If the five of them are used as one, I will certainly suggest to him (President Jokowi, ed) who is most prepared. I see, Jagoi Babang is one of the most prepared," he said.