TNI sets up in Strait of Mallaca<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post\/Medan<\/p>\n
The Bukit Barisan military command, overseeing security in North
\nSumatra, Riau and West Sumatra, plans to establish three new
\ndistrict military commands (Koramil) in areas considered hot
\nspots of smuggling activities.<\/p>\n
The three Koramil units are to be set up on the islands of
\nTanjung Balai Karimun, Natuna and Matang, Bukit Barisan military
\ncommander Maj. Gen. Tri Tamtomo said.<\/p>\n
He said the planned Koramil offices were crucial in fighting
\nunchecked smuggling on the three islands near the Strait of
\nMalacca.<\/p>\n
Smuggling activities on the Tanjung Balai Karimun, Natuna and
\nMatang islands had reached very alarming levels and could pose a
\nthreat to security in the area, Tri added.<\/p>\n
\"The areas are rife with smuggling and infiltration. The three
\nnew Koramil units will be operative in 2005,\" Tri told
\njournalists on Tuesday after presiding over a ceremony marking
\nthe 59th anniversary of the Indonesian Military (TNI) at Benteng
\nSquare in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
He said the Koramil plans did not contravene the new military
\nbill endorsed last week by the House of Representatives, as the
\nbill allowed the military to establish district commands in areas
\nrife with criminal activity.<\/p>\n
During its deliberation, the controversial bill drew strong
\ncriticism from pro-democracy and human rights activists for
\nmaintaining the TNI's territorial role in regions.<\/p>\n
Under former president Soeharto's regime, the military had
\nused its territorial function to stifle democracy and human
\nrights.<\/p>\n
Tri said the Army had teamed up with the Navy and Air Force to
\nconduct regular operations against smuggling on Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Belawan Naval Base commander Rear Adm. Purbojo said the Strait
\nof Malacca was highly vulnerable to smuggling activities.<\/p>\n
\"The Malacca Strait is the most crowded waterway for foreign
\nships, and the potential for smuggling is immense. But the
\nsecurity forces here have been integrated, and we are constantly
\noperating together at sea,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Local aerial defense chief Vice Marshal Irawan Supomo made a
\nsimilar comment, saying his unit had continually implemented
\nvarious measures to curb smuggling, focusing on surveillance.<\/p>\n
He said the unit had often detected several foreign military
\naircraft entering Indonesian territory, particularly North
\nSumatra, but stressed they had requested permission to fly
\nthrough Indonesian air space.<\/p>\n
\"None of the foreign military aircraft could be said to have
\ninfiltrated our space,\" Irawan said.<\/p>\n
He said Australian Air Force planes frequently crossed over
\nNorth Sumatran air space to fly to Malaysia.<\/p>",
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