Feisal downplays border closure<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung said
\nyesterday there was no problem with Malaysia closing its border
\ncheckpoints with Indonesia following ethnic riots in West
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
Malaysia, Feisal said before attending a cabinet meeting, has
\nevery right to close the border and Indonesia should not be
\noffended.<\/p>\n
\"We should not be offended if our neighbor closed their door
\nfor security reasons. We have no right to raise objections to
\nit,\" the general said.<\/p>\n
Malaysia reportedly closed 12 border checkpoints in Sarawak
\nearlier this week following reports of sporadic, ethnically
\nmotivated clashes involving native Dayaks and Madurese migrants
\nin West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Sarawak also has a large Dayak population. The Malaysian
\ngovernment is worried the continuing conflict might spill over
\nthe border.<\/p>\n
A major conflict erupted in Sanggau Ledo in late December.
\nFour people were killed and another 21 are still missing. In
\naddition, hundreds of houses and shops were burned, prompting
\nmore than 5,000 people to flee.<\/p>\n
Malaysian officials said yesterday the border posts will be
\nreopened only once after the ethnic violence has calmed down on
\nthe Indonesian side.<\/p>\n
\"We are still monitoring the situation in Kalimantan. We will
\nonly open up the roads once the situation is declared safe by the
\nIndonesian authorities,\" the National Security Council in Sarawak
\nstate said in a statement as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
\"They (the Malaysians) have Dayaks and others there (in
\nSarawak). That (border closure) is not our business,\" Feisal
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The general stressed that the authorities were determined to
\ntake harsh action against convicted rioters, irrespective of
\ntheir backgrounds.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas
\nsaid he hoped Malaysia would reopen the border checkpoints as
\nsoon as the situation was brought under control.<\/p>\n
\"I hope that this (border closure) is temporarily,\" he said,
\nadding that the situation in West Kalimantan was improving.<\/p>\n
Thousands of Indonesians have reportedly been stranded in
\nSarawak and Malaysians in West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported from Kuala Lumpur that the
\nMalaysian government has deployed more troops to secure the
\nclosure of the whole border between Sarawak and West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Quoting government sources in the Sarawak city of Kuching,
\nAntara said the troops secured all checkpoints along the border,
\nincluding the one in Tebedu, the busiest border post. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/feisal-downplays-border-closure-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}