Aceh's month-long sea blockade 'ineffective'

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)