BNPP Should Be Managed Independently: Minister

Jakarta, Dec 16 (Antara) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno proposed that the National Board for Border Area Management (BNPP) should be independently managed in order to optimize development in border areas. "Currently, the budget at the BNPP is managed by 26 ministries and institutions. Thus, the board is not effective in developing the border areas optimally," the minister stated here on Tuesday. He made the remark after speaking at the Indonesian Navy`s National Seminar on "The Synergy and the Role of Nation in Creating National Development with Maritime Concept." Therefore, the security minister noted that he will send a letter to President Joko Widodo, urging him to turn the BNPP into an independent board similar to the National Disaster Management Board (BNPB) and the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT).