U.S. initiative in Malacca Strait 'baseless': RI Navy<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Indonesian Navy chief Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh has joined the
\nopposition to a United States suggestion that it send troops to
\nthe Malacca Strait under the Regional Maritime Security
\nInitiative (RMSI), calling the idea \"baseless\".<\/p>\n
Bernard said here on Saturday that the reports from the
\nMalaysian-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB), on which the
\nUnited States based its suggestion, were inaccurate. These
\nreports identified the Malacca Strait as being prone to terrorist
\nactivities and pirate attacks.<\/p>\n
\"Thus far this year there have been only two pirate attacks by
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) deserters,\" he said. \"The strait is far
\nremoved from terrorist activity,\" Bernard said.<\/p>\n
U.S. Pacific Commander Adm. Thomas Fargo said formal
\ndiscussions with Asian nations on the RMSI would begin by mid-
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The governments of Indonesia and Malaysia have rejected the
\nU.S. initiative, saying that safety and security in the strait
\nwas based on international maritime law and was the rightful
\nresponsibility of the states bordering it -- Malaysia, Singapore
\nand Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Bernard said the Navy was fully on top of security in
\nIndonesia's part of the strait.<\/p>\n
\"We are still capable of securing the area,\" he added, adding
\nthat the Navy was ready to contain any U.S. intrusion into
\nIndonesia's territory.<\/p>\n
The Navy has long complained about a lack of warships to guard
\nthe maritime territory of the archipelagic country, which has
\n17,000 islands.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has only 117 naval ships, comprising 14 warships, 57
\npatrol boats and 44 support vessels such as tankers and carriers.
\nOnly 30 percent of the ships, however, are seaworthy.<\/p>\n
Bernard said security in the Malacca Strait should be left to
\nthe surrounding countries.<\/p>\n
\"We will conduct a joint exercise with Singapore soon,\" said
\nBernard. The exercise, to be supported by 18 countries, would
\ntake place in the Singapore Strait and South Natuna waters, he
\nadded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-initiative-in-malacca-strait-baseless-ri-navy-1447893297",
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