Navy deploys antiterror reinforcement troops<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Navy has increased patrols in the waters bordering Indonesia
\nand neighboring countries to prevent the infiltration of
\nterrorists, its chief said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The patrols are being conducted by the antiterror unit of the
\nAmphibious Forces Command (Kopaska) in the Straits of Malacca and
\nthe waters near the maritime boundaries with the Philippines and
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
"We have upped the number of sea raider teams from two to four
\nto carry out the patrols," Navy chief Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh
\ntold Antara after a commander's roll-call at the Navy Education
\nCommand in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
He said the patrols would in particular be stepped up in the
\nwaters of Sangir Talaud islands in North Sulawesi and Sulu island
\nin North Maluku which abut the Philippines, which he said were
\nvulnerable to arms smuggling during the sectarian conflict in
\nMaluku between 1999 and 2001.<\/p>\n
"There have been many jail breakers from the Philippines
\nintercepted in these areas, not to mention the bomb that rocked
\nManado. Bunaken island also once received a bomb threat," Bernard
\nrecalled.<\/p>\n
A bomb damaged the fence of the Philippines consulate in the
\nNorth Sulawesi capital of Manado on the same day that bomb blasts
\nripped through two nightclubs in Bali, leaving 202 people dead on
\nOct. 12 last year.<\/p>\n
Bernard said a study conducted by the Navy disclosed that acts
\nof terror usually targeted economic facilities, and there was a
\npossibility that the terrorists were eying maritime economic
\ntargets.<\/p>\n
"Around 90 percent of the goods transported by sea in the Asia
\nPacific area pass Malacca Strait. These vessels are among the
\neconomic symbols that could be targeted for attack," he said.<\/p>\n
The Straits of Malacca constitute the international trade
\ncorridor where shipping is most vulnerable to pirate attack.<\/p>\n
Bernard said he had issued his warning of the threat of terror
\nat sea during a meeting of Navy chiefs from Asia Pacific
\ncountries in Tokyo last year.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Navy has been intensifying intelligence
\nactivities to contain the possible entry of terror suspects by
\nsea.<\/p>\n
"I have ordered naval intelligence to work together with other
\nparties. We are not the best, so we need to share our findings
\nwith other intelligence agencies," Bernard said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Malaysia were scheduled to host the a joint
\nanti-sea mine exercise involving 16 Asia Pacific countries last
\nApril, but it was postponed until next year due to the Severe
\nAcute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.<\/p>\n
Bernard said the exercise was aimed at enhancing cooperation
\namong the armed forces in the region to combat terrorism.<\/p>\n
"Terrorists could also use sea mines in their attacks," he
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/navy-deploys-antiterror-reinforcement-troops-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}