Indonesia-Singapore relations

Indonesia-Singapore relations

I refer to the letter by R. Rais published in The Jakarta Post
on Sept. 1 titled Singapore ties: No opportunity lost in response
to the article RI-S'pore ties: Opportunity lost on Aug. 25 by AM
Hendropriyono.

Rais' letter raises interesting issues. He accused Singapore
of being a haven for criminals and contraband. However, it is
well known that Singapore strongly enforce its laws which are
held in high regard internationally.

Surely if the Indonesian government authorities have evidence
of crimes being committed they have full recourse to Singapore's
legal system.

Rais said that the export of sand to Singapore has caused
environmental damage in Indonesia. Singapore is a strong advocate
of environmental protection and fully support stronger Indonesian
enforcement of its laws. If Indonesia's environment is damaged,
as in the annual forest fires in Sumatra, Singapore as a close
neighbor suffers the consequences.

Far from Singapore exaggerating the threat of terrorism in the
Straits of Malacca, this concern has been raised by many
countries including some of the Association of South East Asian
Nations' (ASEAN's) most important dialog partners. The recent
agreement to hold joint patrols by Indonesia, Malaysia and
Singapore shows that the three countries are seized with this
issue.

Rais' comment about the "dubious circumstances" of the 1991
water agreement is very strange. If an agreement solemnly entered
into by two sovereign countries can be called into question in
this way, what would be the value of future agreements?

BARRY DESKER, Singapore