ASEAN told to combat piracy<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
Indonesia urged on Tuesday members of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to establish security cooperation
\nto combat piracy in international waters in the region.<\/p>\n
\"Security cooperation is badly needed on the grounds that
\npiracy has reached an alarming level in three international
\nwaterways,\" said Ibrahim Jusuf, head of Research and Policy
\nDevelopment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
The international waters in question are the South China Sea,
\nthe Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n
Citing International Maritime Organization (IMO) data, Ibrahim
\nsaid that last year 24 acts of piracy had occurred in the Strait
\nof Malacca, 112 in the South China Sea and 46 in the Indian
\nOcean.<\/p>\n
The cases occurred in Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean,
\nBruneian and the Philippines waters, among others.<\/p>\n
According to Ibrahim, the proposed joint security cooperation
\nshould focus on improving surveillance at sea and security at
\nseaports.<\/p>\n
He also said that ASEAN should consider the establishment of a
\nStrait of Malacca Task Force involving the security forces of
\neach country along the strait, particularly since it was one of
\nthe busiest shipping lanes in the region.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim said the establishment of such a task force was
\ntimely, as pirates had become bolder and dared to attack and rob
\ncargo ships anchored in seaports along the strait.<\/p>\n
They usually operate in groups of four and use small and fast
\nboats, he said. \"Cargo ships are most commonly robbed when
\nanchored at nearby seaports,\" said Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
Data reveals that 79 percent of piracy cases in the region
\noccurred at seaports along the strait, while only 21 percent
\noccur at sea, said Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim was speaking before a seminar titled ASEAN Cooperation
\nin Combating Piracy held on Tuesday in the North Sumatra capital
\nof Medan. The seminar, held by the Directorate General of ASEAN
\nCooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was opened by
\nNorth Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin.<\/p>\n
Some 100 participants attended the seminar, including
\nstudents, security personnel, civil servants and activists from
\nlocal non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the acting director general of ASEAN cooperation,
\nMarty Natalegawa, said that piracy at sea had been the main
\nconcern of ASEAN in recent years.<\/p>\n
In a written statement read out at the seminar by Awang
\nBahrin, an official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marty
\nsaid piracy had disrupted international trade in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
He warned that if the crime was not overcome immediately, it
\ncould become a part of international crime -- such as terrorism,
\nmoney laundering and arms smuggling -- that endangered peace and
\nsecurity in the region.<\/p>\n
\"Piracy can turn into terrorism, if the pirates manipulate it
\nfor political reasons,\" the statement read.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim said that pirates usually used sharp weapons, for
\nexample machetes and spears, and only 13 percent used guns,
\nincluding Russia-made AK-47s or U.S.-made M-16 rifles.<\/p>\n
In order to end the use of guns in piracy, Ibrahim asserted
\nthat ASEAN countries should improve surveillance on illegal arms
\ntrafficking.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-told-to-combat-piracy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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