Jakarta wants legal decision on dispute

Jakarta wants legal decision on dispute

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia asked Malaysia yesterday to seek a
legal resolution to the military conflict on the Kalimantan
border that killed four Indonesians last September.

Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung told the House
Commission I on political and security affairs that the incident
would not affect diplomatic ties between the two countries.

"We have discussed this issue and we hope the Malaysian
authorities will reach a settlement soon," Feisal said.

Feisal's comment gave the government's first formal
confirmation of the border conflict involving an Indonesian Navy
patrol and Malaysian Forest Police at dawn on Sept. 26.

Feisal, answering questions from Sabam Sirait of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction, said the clash
happened on Panjang River near the border, not on the disputed
Sipadan and Ligitan islands.

"It was a foggy dawn. Our small patrol boat was not seen by
Malaysian Forest Police," Feisal said.

He said four Indonesians were killed: a corporal, a boat crew
member and two civilians who worked as maintenance clerks on the
boat.

When asked about the dispute over the Sipadan and Ligitan
islands, Feisal said that Indonesia was committed to maintaining
the status quo agreed to by both Indonesia and Malaysia.

"We have moved our patrols back following the agreement, but
they (Malaysia) took the chance to legitimize their occupation of
the islands by launching tourism campaigns," Feisal said.

Indonesia has been preparing a formal objection to send to the
International Court of Justice about Malaysia's decision to
promote the islands as a tourist destination, according to
Feisal.

Both Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to take the dispute to the
ICJ last month.

Located just off the northeast coast of Kalimantan, the
dispute over the islands is a legacy of the two countries'
colonial past. (amd)