Talks on islands deadlocked<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Negotiations on the disputed islands of Sipadan
\nand Ligitan ended in an impasse yesterday as Indonesia formally
\nrejected Malaysia's proposal for arbitration by the United
\nNations' International Court of Justice (ICJ).<\/p>\n
"At present we as yet do not feel it necessary to involve a
\nthird party in resolving the bilateral matter between our two
\ncountries," said Izhar Ibrahim, the head of the Indonesian
\ndelegation, yesterday.<\/p>\n
Even though arbitration remains a viable option, Izhar said
\nefforts at a bilateral solution remain far from exhausted.<\/p>\n
The third meeting between the Indonesia-Malaysia working group
\non the Sipadan and Ligitan islands ended yesterday after three
\ndays of talks which reflected the true disparity in the positions
\nof the two "cousins."<\/p>\n
"Malaysia hopes Indonesia will approve Malaysia's proposal to
\nbring forth the issue to the International Court of Justice,"
\nsaid Malaysia's chief delegate Ahmad Kamil Jaafar.<\/p>\n
Izhar stated that should Indonesia agree to arbitration at
\nsome point in the future, the Association of South East Asian
\nNations' (ASEAN) adjudication mechanism of the High Council must
\nget first consideration.<\/p>\n
The dispute over the two tiny islands, located off the east
\ncoast of Kalimantan, has lingered following a 1969 agreement to
\nmaintain the status quo until legal ownership is determined.<\/p>\n
The first meeting of the working group was held in Jakarta in
\n1992 followed by a second in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Each country lays claim to the islands based on ownership by
\ntheir former colonial rulers.<\/p>\n
Recognizing the potential for conflict, Jakarta and Kuala
\nLumpur have consciously trodden carefully in seeking a diplomatic
\nresolution.<\/p>\n
A speedy and peaceful solution was again reiterated when
\nPresident Soeharto and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad met on
\nLangkawi Island last year to discuss the matter.<\/p>\n
Both countries are founding members of ASEAN which also groups
\nThailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei.<\/p>\n
When queried by The Jakarta Post on Malaysia's refusal to
\nemploy the mechanism provided within the framework of ASEAN,
\nJaafar said his government felt the High Council could deliberate
\nindefinitely and expend too much time in reaching a decision.<\/p>\n
"If we use an alternate mechanism other than that of the ICJ,
\nin our opinion, it will take time...we don't want the issue of
\nSipadan and Ligitan to drag on and strain the good relations
\nbetween our countries," explained Jaafar who is also secretary
\ngeneral at the foreign ministry.<\/p>\n
Based in the Dutch capital of The Hague, the ICJ is the main
\njudicial organ of the UN. It comprises 15 members of separate
\nnationalities who decide, based on international law, cases
\nsubmitted by states.<\/p>\n
Borders<\/p>\n
Despite Jaafar's explanation, it is important to note that
\nsince Malaysia is engaged in border disputes with almost all the
\nASEAN nations, the High Council could be used as an opportunity
\nto "gang up" on Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
Since its creation, the High Council has never been used to
\nresolve border disputes between Malaysia and its ASEAN brothers.<\/p>\n
"Why don't we show the world that the mechanism we (ASEAN)
\nestablished can be used to resolve the problems between the two
\ncountries," insisted Izhar who is also director general of
\npolitical affairs at the foreign ministry.<\/p>\n
Izhar rejected suggestions that the High Council may be biased
\nin its judgment, adding that the Council truly understands the
\ninternal difficulties that others outside of ASEAN do not.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the many documents exchanged between the two
\ncountries, Izhar said it was the quality and not the quantity
\nthat mattered.<\/p>\n
During the talks in Jakarta, Malaysia added an additional 22
\ndocuments to the 67 already presented.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless Izhar revealed that many of the documents handed
\nover were irrelevant to supporting Malaysia's claims.<\/p>\n
The results of the talks will now be passed to the foreign
\nministers of the two countries to be discussed in future
\nnegotiations.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mahathir is scheduled to arrive here and meet
\nwith President Soeharto in five days, during which time the
\nresults of the joint working group are expected to be
\ncommunicated.(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/talks-on-islands-deadlocked-1447893297",
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