Tension eases as RI pulls out warships<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Sebatik Island<\/p>\n
Tension between Indonesia and Malaysia over border and mineral
\nresources subsided on Tuesday with the Navy pulling out its
\nwarships from the disputed maritime area of Ambalat in the
\nSulawesi Sea.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was touring the
\nislands near the disputed area off the eastern coast of
\nKalimantan, insisted that the two countries would not put their
\ngood ties at stake just because of a border issue.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Navy's Eastern Fleet Rear Adm. Sosialisman, who
\nwas among the President's entourage, said he had ordered five of
\nthe seven warships that had been on guard in the Ambalat area to
\nreturn to their base in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
The withdrawal followed an agreement between leaders of the
\ntwo countries to send their foreign ministers to Jakarta for
\ntalks to settle the dispute, which are scheduled to begin on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Concluding his tour of Sebatik Island on Tuesday, the
\nPresident said the two countries would avoid a confrontation.<\/p>\n
"(Our) bilateral ties have not undergone any rapid, unexpected
\nchanges. Don't imagine that the two countries' bilateral ties are
\nin a critical condition. Good ties will not be severed in such a
\nshort time... I think we are in a more friendly, neighborly mood
\nthan in the past," Susilo said, adding that Indonesia was not the
\nenemy of Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia dispatched over the weekend seven warships and four
\nF-16 jet fighters for closer surveillance over two deep-water
\nblocks claimed by Malaysia to be its territory. Hundreds of
\nsoldiers and thousands of others were ready for deployment to the
\ndisputed area to counter the presence of Malaysian warships and
\npatrol planes there.<\/p>\n
The TNI chief said all four F-16s would stay at Balikpapan air
\nbase, while the remaining two warships would continue their
\npatrols.<\/p>\n
"Malaysia has only sent two small patrol boats out there, so
\nit's not necessary for us to counter with bigger vessels,"
\nEndriartono said.<\/p>\n
He added that the dispute would encourage the TNI to ask for
\nan increase in the defense budget when the government proposed a
\nrevision to the state budget next month.<\/p>\n
"Most of the additional money will be used for upgrading Navy
\nand Air Force equipment," he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The dispute emerged after Malaysia's state-owned oil company
\nPetronas awarded production sharing contracts to Shell in
\nthe oil-and-gas-rich water blocks last month. Jakarta protested
\nMalaysia's claim over the territory but to no avail.<\/p>\n
The country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama
\n(NU), and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) joined the campaign
\nfor a peaceful settlement.<\/p>\n
The NU's leader, Hasyim Muzadi, said the organization
\nsupported the use of diplomacy to resolve the row as it would
\nprevent intervention by a third party.<\/p>\n
"We should learn from the conflicts between Iran and Iraq and
\nbetween Iraq and Kuwait, when a third party played a hidden role.
\nIndonesia and Malaysia, two Muslim countries in Southeast Asia,
\nshould maintain their brotherhood to keep a third party from
\ncausing disorder," Hasyim said in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Despite the call for peace, anti-Malaysia rallies were staged
\nacross the country on Tuesday. Protesters demanded the government
\ndeclare war to maintain Indonesia's sovereignty over the disputed
\nwaters.<\/p>\n
Thousands of students and youths in major cities of Java,
\nSumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi took to the streets, calling out
\nthat they were ready for battle.<\/p>\n
Several youth organizations in Palu, Makassar, Semarang and
\nSurabaya opened registration for civilian volunteers who wished
\nto help the TNI "crush Malaysia".<\/p>\n
Jusuf Putra, the coordinator of the anti-Malaysia
\ndemonstration in Surabaya, said hundreds of youths and students
\nhad joined his task force, which is sponsored by Muslim students
\nin the city.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tension-eases-as-ri-pulls-out-warships-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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