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