BARS clarifies

I refer to Mark Valencia's opinion piece entitled Mercenaries in the Strait of Malacca (The Jakarta Post, July 28). Valencia quotes me in his piece using a comment lifted from an old article printed by another newspaper. He is based in Hawaii and has neither endeavored to contact my firm nor sought any details of the type of services that Background Asia Risk Solutions provides.

I am therefore surprised that he has insinuated that he has spoken with me, let alone written an article that suggests we are mercenaries. His piece shows a lack of understanding of both the fundamental safety issues that are a day-to-day reality for the seafarers that ply the Straits, and the international maritime laws that clearly govern our operations.

The fact is that piracy in these waters has been a consistent problem over recent years. Valencia offers plenty of conjecture but suggests no solution to the problem. For crew and shipowners alike there is no such thing as an acceptable level of risk, or violence -- they must be protected.

Background Asia Risk Solutions (BARS) is not a firm of mercenaries. BARS provides guarding services for maritime assets in Asia and elsewhere. In each location that we work we ensure that our activities are in compliance with international and domestic laws and regulations at all times. Some of that work involves the Malacca Straits, much of it does not.

We have no offensive capability whatsoever. Our role is purely defensive. That role is spelt out in our contracts with our clients, in the procedures we agree with the Masters of the vessels, and in the representations we make to the governments and sovereign police authorities that we are required to communicate with.

BARS has and continues to work closely with the authorities in the locations in which it operates. Each mission we conduct is unique. We brief authorities on each mission, we listen carefully to their concerns and we respect their laws and advice. Where it is not possible for BARS to conduct a mission within the law we decline it.

Valencia talks about the issue of sovereignty. Sovereignty is vitally important in South East Asia. Without respect for sovereignty and the rule of law there may be instability. BARS pays great attention to these issues and conducts its operations in a way that respects the very real concerns of each state in the region, whilst also giving our clients the added piece of mind in having highly trained and skilled security professionals assisting their operations.

ALEX DUPEROUZEL Managing Director Background Asia Risk Solutions Pte Ltd Singapore