BARS clarifies

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