"We have lost Sipadan and Ligitan because the International Supreme Court found the currency found there was not the rupiah. This is one of the court`s reasons to state that the islands did not belong to Indonesia," Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor RonJakarta (ANTARA News) - Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Ronald Waas said due to a rupiah absence two Indonesian islands namely Sipadan and Ligitan have gone.
"We have lost Sipadan and Ligitan because the International Supreme Court found the currency found there was not the rupiah. This is one of the court`s reasons to state that the islands did not belong to Indonesia," he said here on Wednesday.
He said rupiah distribution to the country`s outer regions is important to prove the regions are part of Indonesia.
"We should ensure the distribution and availability of the rupiah in isolated areas," he said.
Bank Indonesia has cooperated with some ministries and agencies concerned to distribute the rupiah in the country`s outer islands safely and efficiently.
"BI has cooperated with the Indonesian Navy for distributing rupiah. We can`t use commercial cargo due to technical problems," he said.
Bank Indonesia has sent Rp15-20 billion worth of cash money in several denominations. BI also serves people wishing to exchange their shabby bills with the new ones.
"We have distributed rupiahs to Mianggas and Natuna islands go through Batam. We have also sent it to border areas in Papua," he said.
According to him, BI will expand its cooperation to include the air force to distribute cash money to isolated areas.
"Some of the Indonesian areas are difficult to reach by ship. So we should send the cash money by air," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
