Govt, House to hold talks on Ambalat

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives will meet with the government on Friday night to discuss the dispute with Malaysia over the offshore Ambalat oil block in the Sulawesi Sea.

House Speaker Agung Laksono said on Tuesday the meeting would take place at the State Palace to discuss the government's strategy for maintaining possession of Ambalat.

A number of legislators have criticized the government for failing to consult the House on its decision to deploy reinforcement troops to the disputed area.

According to Law No. 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military, the government is required to inform the House within 48 hours after any large deployment of troops under a war threat. -- JP