Aceh's month-long sea blockade 'ineffective'

JAKARTA (JP): The month-long sea blockade launched by the Indonesian Navy in waters around the restive province of Aceh to curb arms smuggling has failed to bear fruit.

Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono admitted on Tuesday that after a month of reinforced security in Acehnese waters, they had still not foiled a single weapons-smuggling attempt.

The Navy's Western Fleet last month deployed four patrol vessels, each manned by 150 crew members, and two reconnaissance aircraft to Acehnese waters to join the three warships already on patrol there.

The operation was launched following intelligence reports that weapons smuggling into the province was rampant. According to the reports, foreign nationals from neighboring countries such as Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia have been engaged in smuggling arms to the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

"I regret to admit that a month after I ordered Western Fleet Commander (Rear Adm. Sumardjono) to tighten security in the Straits of Malacca, we have yet to foil any weapons-smuggling attempts," Indroko said.

"Or, GAM may be using other methods of smuggling weapons into the province. Smuggling by sea is only one possibility," Indroko told reporters at naval headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

He, however, didn't say whether arms smuggling into Aceh was still taking place during the period in question.

Indroko also denied that the sea blockade would only isolate the Acehnese from the international community, "because it is aimed only at prejudicial activities which harm the unitary Republic of Indonesia." (tso)