F-16s deployed ahead of Susilo's visit to Sebatik

F-16s deployed ahead of Susilo's visit to Sebatik

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Tensions continued to heighten between Indonesia and Malaysia on
Sunday as Jakarta dispatched four F-16 fighter jets to the
disputed Ambalat offshore area in the Sulawesi Sea to join
patrols by seven Indonesian warships.

The deployment came ahead of President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono's visit to Sebatik island near the disputed area on
Monday.

Air Force Chief of Staff Rear Marshall Djoko Suyanto said the
fighter jets were sent to strengthen the patrol in the disputed
area.

"It isn't aimed at provocation," he said after a Cabinet
meeting chaired by Susilo on Sunday. Also present were Indonesian
Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, Army Chief of
Staff Let. Gen. Djoko Santoso, and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hassan Wirayuda.

The F-16s reportedly flew from the Madiun airbase in East Java
and arrived in East Kalimantan on Sunday afternoon. It was not
clear for how long the jet fighters would be patrolling Ambalat,
located in the Sulawesi Sea off the east coast of Kalimantan, and
thought to have huge oil and gas reserves.

Susilo is scheduled to fly to East Kalimantan on Monday
morning to visit Sebatik island and the towns of Tarakan and
Nunukan.

Sebatik is situated off the land border between East
Kalimantan and Malaysia's state of Sabah. The island, just west
of Ambalat, is split between the two countries.

The visit to Sebatik is aimed at seeking direct reports on the
situation in the border areas, presidential spokesman Andi
Mallarangeng said.

The Navy said President Susilo will board the KRI KS Tubun
warship from Tarakan to Sebatik.

Malaysia claims Ambalat is part of its territory, while
Indonesia said the claim is based on a map from 1979 that is not
recognized by the Indonesian government or most other Southeast
Asian countries.

Earlier on Saturday, Navy Eastern Fleet Fighter Division Chief
of Staff, Col. Marsetio, said his office has prepared seven
warships to guard Ambalat.

"KRI Singa, KRI Tongkol and KRI KS Tubun warships will be here
(Tarakan) in a moment, joining KRI Nuku, KRI Wiratno and KRI
Rencong warships," he said as quoted by Antara.

Another warship will also be sent, but will not arrive in
Tarakan until Monday morning, Marsetio added.

The deployment of warships, he said, was in line with the
national policy of protecting the country's sovereignty on the
east coast of Sebatik island.

Several hours earlier, KRI Rencong faced off with the
Malaysian warship KD Kerambit in Karang Unarang waters, where a
lighthouse is to be built by the Ministry of Communications and
Information to help strengthen Indonesia's position.

Marsetio said there were radio contacts between the two
warships, with Malaysia claiming that KRI Rencong had entered
Malaysian territory.

Argument ensured, with KRI Rencong telling Malaysian
authorities otherwise.

TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said Indonesian and
Malaysian warships had met several times in passing in the
disputed area. However, no military incident was reported.

He gave an assurance that tensions between the countries would
not worsen as he and his Malaysian counterpart had agreed to
settle the matter through diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, former People's Consultative Assembly speaker Amien
Rais urged the government to make all efforts to retain Ambalat,
otherwise Indonesia's loss of Ligitan and Sipadan will be
repeated.

"If the government is softhearted and weak, they (Malaysia)
will really put pressure on us. So, the ball is really in the
government's court," Amien said in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

A number of Makasar residents have meanwhile set up a "Front
for Crushing Malaysia" center aimed at defending the country
should tensions continue.

This is reminiscent of Indonesia's confrontation with Malaysia
in the mid 1960s, when Indonesia claiming territory ceded to the
Malaysian federation by the British (now Sabah and Sarawak) in
north Borneo.