Navy to intensify war against smuggling<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Navy is gearing up to combat widespread
\npiracy, smuggling, poaching and pollution in the busy Malacca
\nStrait.<\/p>\n
Navy Chief Vice Admiral Arief Kushariadi asked the Navy's new
\nWestern Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Achmad Sutjipto on Wednesday
\nto intensify the fleet's patrol of one of the world's busiest sea
\nlanes.<\/p>\n
Arief urged the Western Fleet command to work in conjunction
\nwith the neighboring navies of Malaysia and Singapore to curb the
\ncriminal activities in the Strait.<\/p>\n
\"Smuggling, piracy, pollution and illegal fishing are still
\nrampant in the area, especially around the Riau islands,\" he said
\nafter swearing in Sutjipto at navy headquarters.<\/p>\n
Sutjipto replaced Rear Admiral Widodo A.S., who is now
\nassistant to the navy chief overseeing budgetary and planning
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
Arief, inducted on March 15, said the growing number of crimes
\nin the narrow strait bordering Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore
\nhas become one of the navy's most pressing concerns.<\/p>\n
Last year, the western fleet impounded more than 80 foreign
\nships caught poaching in Indonesian territory and brought more
\nthan 140 alleged smugglers to court after seizing their smuggled
\nelectronic goods.<\/p>\n
The Navy, according to Arief, also has foiled attempts to
\nsmuggle several thousands of Indonesian workers to Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Widodo, the outgoing Western Fleet Command chief, admitted
\nthat the Navy's operations so far have not brought about the
\ndesired results due mainly to a lack of high-powered patrol ships
\nand personnel.<\/p>\n
\"Crimes are well-organized there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Arief added that successful prosecutions are generally very
\ninvolved, requiring the assistance of the prosecutor's office,
\nthe tax and excise office and the transportation ministry.<\/p>\n
Another matter being monitored by the Navy, Arief said, is the
\nmilitary tension between China and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
If it develops into an open war and affects security within
\nIndonesia's territory, the navy can deploy several warships in
\nthe South China Sea bordering Indonesia, he said.<\/p>\n
He predicted that Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines
\nwould do the same if war were to break out.<\/p>\n
Arief said the Navy's western fleet, which has an integrated
\ndefense system of battle units, warships, war planes and naval
\nbases, should be able to react rapidly in times of crisis.<\/p>\n
\"The fleet must be able to launch a preemptive strike if
\nnecessary,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sutjipto, 51, was the Eastern Fleet Command's chief of staff
\nfrom 1993 to 1996.<\/p>\n
After graduating from the Surabaya-based Navy Academy in 1969,
\nhe pursued his education in shipping technology in 1970. He was
\nassigned to warships from 1971 to 1974.<\/p>\n
Between 1975 and 1978, he was an administrative officer at the
\nNavy's Eastern Fleet headquarters. In 1979, he was employed at PT
\nPAL's dockyard company in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
He was appointed commandant of the Eastern Fleet Headquarters'
\ndetachment from 1980 to 1984.<\/p>\n
Sutjipto, born in the East Javanese town of Bondowoso in 1945,
\nwas given command in 1991 of the KRI Marta Kristina Tiahahu and
\nKRI Achmad Yani warships.<\/p>\n
In 1992 he was appointed governor of the Navy Academy.<\/p>\n
Arief also inducted on Wednesday the new commandant of marine
\ntraffic command, Commodore Amonaris S., who replaces Commodore
\nWarsono. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/navy-to-intensify-war-against-smuggling-1447893297",
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