Feisal downplays border conflict with Malaysia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia agreed yesterday not to
\nlet the armed border conflict in September sour the good
\nrelationship between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said the
\nclash, which left four Indonesians dead, took place because of a
\nmisunderstanding. He placed the greater part of the blame for the
\nincident on bad weather.<\/p>\n
"It (the clash) happened on a foggy dawn. The patrolling
\nMalaysian Forest Police could not see the small Indonesian patrol
\nboat sailing along the river bordering the two countries," he
\nannounced after the 25th Meeting of the Malaysia-Indonesia
\nGeneral Border Committee.<\/p>\n
The four Indonesians were killed during the Sept. 16 clash, on
\nPancang River near the border on Kalimantan, involving an
\nIndonesian Navy patrol and Malaysian Forest Police. A Marine
\ncorporal, a crew member and two civilians who worked as
\nmaintenance clerks on the boat died in the clash.<\/p>\n
Feisal told the House Commission I on political and security
\naffairs Wednesday the incident would not affect diplomatic ties.
\nHis remarks were the first formal confirmation of the border
\nconflict from the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Syed Hamid bin
\nSyed Jaafar Albar said the two countries have discussed the
\nconflict "through political and military channels".<\/p>\n
He agreed with Feisal that it should not affect the
\nrelationship between the two countries.<\/p>\n
The two officials said the border meeting did not discuss the
\nprotracted dispute over the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan, which
\nwas referred to the International Court of Justice last month.<\/p>\n
Feisal told the House members Wednesday that Indonesia had
\nshown its commitment to maintaining the status quo, agreed to by
\nboth countries, by moving Indonesian patrols back from the
\nborder.<\/p>\n
Feisal criticized Kuala Lumpur for violating the status quo by
\nlaunching tourism campaigns on the two islands. He said Indonesia
\nwas preparing a formal objection to send to the ICJ over
\nMalaysia's decision to promote the islands as a Malaysian holiday
\ndestination.<\/p>\n
The dispute over the islands, located just off the northeast
\ncoast of Kalimantan, is a legacy of the two countries' colonial
\npasts.<\/p>\n
Discussing the outcome of the border meeting, Feisal said the
\ntwo countries have agreed to continue joint military exercises in
\nthe future. They also agreed to increase vigilance over illegal
\nborder-trespassing from either country.<\/p>\n
Feisal said their joint naval operation identified 142 foreign
\nwarships and 18,572 multinational trading ships crossing the
\nMalacca Straits from Jan. 9 to Dec. 11 this year.<\/p>\n
The joint operation also noted 35 illegal airplane flights, 81
\nnaval accidents, four incidents of water pollution, two sea
\npiracies and illegal logging activities at 14 locations. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/feisal-downplays-border-conflict-with-malaysia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}