RI, Malaysia to launch joint action on terrorism
RI, Malaysia to launch joint action on terrorism
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya
Indonesian and Malaysian police will soon launch a joint
operation to tackle international crimes occurring at areas
bordering the two countries and establish a terrorism crisis
center in Indonesia.
National Police Operations Bureau chief Brig. Gen. Rubani
Pranoto said on Friday that the operation, called Aman Malino
(Safe Malaysia-Indonesia), aimed at stamping out international
crimes that were rampant on the borders of the two countries,
such as smuggling, drug dealing and child or women trafficking.
"It's also targeted at securing the Strait of Malacca, which
the United States believes to be a safe haven for terrorists,"
said Rubani after a closed-door meeting with Malaysian police
here on Friday.
A high-ranking Malaysian police officer, Dato Mohammad Nor
Otsman, said that the operation would focus on areas considered
the most prone, such as East and West Kalimantan adjacent to
Malaysia's province of Serawak.
"Besides those areas, we'll also stay alert on the areas along
Johor all the way to Pangkal Pinang (in Malaysia) and the Strait
of Malacca, which is prone to crimes like piracy on the sea," he
said.
Rubani said Indonesia would deploy around 1,500 water police
officers in addition to 300 to 600 officers on the ground.
"All of our officers will work together with those from
Malaysia and try to secure other many areas in the vicinity, such
as North Sumatra and Riau," he said.
Otsman said Malaysia planned to dispatch at least 100 boats to
observe the areas bordering the two countries and the Strait of
Malacca.
He also affirmed that the Malaysian police would provide
adequate security for Malaysians residing near the borders by
conducting a regular operation involving the country's water
police.
"Security in the Strait of Malacca is Malaysia's
responsibility. If there's a crime, it won't be a terrorist act,
but only a petty crime or armed robbery mostly conducted by GAM
members," he said, referring to the Free Aceh Movement, which has
been fighting for the independence for resource-rich Aceh.
The police of both sides also plan to establish a terrorism
crisis center following an early meeting among police units in
the Southeast Asian region a few weeks ago in Bali to discuss
security affairs in the region.
The center will be used to train antiterrorism troops for the
Asia-Pacific region and as a joint information center.
The center will be headquartered in the Police Academy in
Semarang, Central Java, while training on terrorism management
will be held in Malaysia.
"The training for antiterror troops will start next year.
We've prepared several experts from Germany and the United
States," said Rubani.