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)