Navy to set up base in Yogyakarta

"Yogyakarta is one of our choices as it is quite strategically located," Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Slamet Soebijanto said here on Monday.

He said Indonesia still lacked adequate naval bases covering waters to its south. "We only have one but it is located in Kupang (East Nusatenggara)," he said.

It was hoped the plan to build a base in Yogyakarta could be realized soon, Soebijanto said, adding the existence of a naval base in the area would guarantee security for ships passing through waters off the country`s southern coasts.