Navy keeps patrolling in Sipadan-Ligitan

Navy keeps patrolling in Sipadan-Ligitan

JAKARTA: Indonesian Navy spokesman Commodore Sugeng Waluyo
said the Navy would continue patrolling the disputed Sipadan and
Ligitan islands off East Kalimantan province.

He revealed that his vessels often met Malaysian naval ships
while patrolling there.

"We've never been involved in a fight," he said on Thursday on
the sidelines of a ceremony marking the Navy's 57th anniversary
in Cilangkap.

Sugeng emphasized that the patrols were designed to prevent
smuggling into and out of Indonesian territory.

The Netherlands-based International Court of Justice is to
issue a final and binding decision on Dec. 17 on the ownership of
Sipadan and Ligitan islands, which are claimed both by Indonesia
and Malaysia.

Foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday that
Indonesia was ready to accept any decision on the disputed
islands that the court might make. --Antara