U.S. initiative in Malacca Strait 'baseless': RI Navy

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

Indonesian Navy chief Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh has joined the opposition to a United States suggestion that it send troops to the Malacca Strait under the Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI), calling the idea "baseless".

Bernard said here on Saturday that the reports from the Malaysian-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB), on which the United States based its suggestion, were inaccurate. These reports identified the Malacca Strait as being prone to terrorist activities and pirate attacks.

"Thus far this year there have been only two pirate attacks by Free Aceh Movement (GAM) deserters," he said. "The strait is far removed from terrorist activity," Bernard said.

U.S. Pacific Commander Adm. Thomas Fargo said formal discussions with Asian nations on the RMSI would begin by mid- year.

The governments of Indonesia and Malaysia have rejected the U.S. initiative, saying that safety and security in the strait was based on international maritime law and was the rightful responsibility of the states bordering it -- Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Bernard said the Navy was fully on top of security in Indonesia's part of the strait.

"We are still capable of securing the area," he added, adding that the Navy was ready to contain any U.S. intrusion into Indonesia's territory.

The Navy has long complained about a lack of warships to guard the maritime territory of the archipelagic country, which has 17,000 islands.

Indonesia has only 117 naval ships, comprising 14 warships, 57 patrol boats and 44 support vessels such as tankers and carriers. Only 30 percent of the ships, however, are seaworthy.

Bernard said security in the Malacca Strait should be left to the surrounding countries.

"We will conduct a joint exercise with Singapore soon," said Bernard. The exercise, to be supported by 18 countries, would take place in the Singapore Strait and South Natuna waters, he added.