JAKARTA (JP): The Navy will take the fight to pirate activity in the western part of the country, says Western Fleet Commander Commodore Arief Kushariadi.

"There has been no piracy in the western territory in the last two years, but they have been currently flaring up again, especially in waters along the Strait of Malacca," he said after the job transfer ceremony of the fleet's battle unit chief from Commodore Bambang Surjanto to Col. Reno Mauritz Silitonga here yesterday.

He said pirates are like pickpockets operating in buses. He declined to disclose how many pirates have been detained.

He said the western fleet would add the number of patrol and war ships deployed to hunt pirates, smugglers and tankers polluting the waters in the region.

"To combat the piracy, operations should be launched not only on water but also on land because pirates initiate their action from the land," he said.

Arief said that besides conducting a joint maritime operation with the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Finance and police, Indonesia also has bilateral piracy fighting ties with Malaysia.

He said the Navy was still running short of ships to carry out military and anti-crime operations to protect the country's maritime territory.

"Despite the recent arrival of 39 ex-East German warships, it will remain inadequate, compared to the size of sea to be guarded," he said.

The ideal number should be as many as three times the present number," he said. (rms)