Excerpts from The Times
Indonesia has banned the export of sand and imposed strict controls on shipments of gravel, after fears that its islands were being loaded on to ships and carried away to Singapore. In its thirst for building materials and landfill to reclaim new territory from the sea, Indonesians allege, Singapore has been stealing the land beneath their feet.
Since Indonesia announced its ban on sand in February, the price of a cubic metre of it has increased more than seven times, from S$6.5 (£2.18) to S$50. The Indonesian Navy has mobilised 18 ships to intercept gravel pirates and sand bandits.
“Some of these islands are reduced to islets, and could even disappear below the surface,” Hendropriyono, Indonesia’s former intelligence chief, has said. “This could theoretically lead to a cartographic zero-sum game in which Singapore’s gain could be at Indonesia’s territorial loss.”
Read the full article in The Times.
Read also: Indonesia’s sand ban not a matter of life and death: PM Lee
Strange, I remember Indonesia SELLING the sand to us. THats not stealing now, is it? Blame their own government for allowing it, no one’s forcing them to export sand. THe fuss is absurd.
Sand Ban started with Mahathir who had a grudge with SG. It is an undeclared economic sanction. Mahathir instigated Indonesia not to sell us sand too. Thus you see no crooked bridge. Singaporeans must realise that there are enough people who want us to fail and yet we get a few misguided Singaporeans or bloggers who are trying to undermine SG. TOC must be responsible and not be bias to present all views. Quality must be maintained or else it will be a waste of time.
You cannot get fair view from the activists in Indonesia nor UK. They don’t care a shit about truth and Singapore! How much sand can a little red dot accept considering it is also importing from all over the region? Wayang Kulit! Indonesia has over 1700 islands don’t forget.