Indonesia, Malaysia stand by claims
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Denpasar
The first round of technical talks aimed to resolve a dispute over an offshore area between Indonesia and Malaysia concluded on Wednesday, with both sides vowing not to back down from their claims over the oil field.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said after the talks that both countries had agreed to resume their dialog in Malaysia in early May, with more rounds of negotiations to follow.
"We stick to our claim. We are not backing down because Ambalat is still our area. We're now constructing a lighthouse there and the project will continue," he said.
The talks focused on the maritime mapping of the so-called Ambalat blocks, an oil- and gas-rich area off the eastern coast of Kalimantan.
Hassan said Indonesia reaffirmed its stance during the technical talks in Denpasar, Bali, which the minister said took place "in a good and friendly atmosphere".
The bipartisan technical commission was been set up to examine the competing claims and to try find a solution.
"Both sides have been very open and straightforward about their respective positions. We asked (Malaysia) about the basis for their argument in determining the borders," he said.
Hassan said Indonesia would explain its legal claim to the Ambalat blocks based on the country's status as an archipelago nation during the next meetings.
As of Wednesday, Indonesian and Malaysian warships continued their patrols around the disputed blocks. Indonesian Military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said the military would maintain its presence there while the negotiations were underway.
Both the Indonesian and Malaysian delegates to the technical talks refused to give statements regarding the results of their closed-door meeting.
On the second day, the meeting was moved to the third floor of the Grand Mirage Hotel after it was held in the ballroom overnight. Tight security meant all access to the meeting room was blocked.
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said the two sides had expressed concern about local militias deployed to the area who were reportedly preparing for an armed confrontation should talks between the two nations fail.
He said Malaysia and Indonesia would announce the results of the Bali technical meeting soon.
The neighbors, Marty said, were considering a series of meetings on the subject to pursue a resolution.
"It's difficult to imagine the negotiation process finishing after only one meeting," he said.
Outside the hotel, dozens of people who claimed to represent the "national defense command" rallied to protest at what they called an invasion by Malaysia into the disputed maritime area.
In a statement, the demonstrators said they opposed any compromise or oil-sharing agreement. "The block belongs entirely to Indonesia," they said.
The protesters also mobbed the car carrying Marty out of the hotel before police dispersed them.
"We wanted to give him our statement," one of them said.
Envoy -- Page 2