U.S. troops unncessary: Navy Chief

U.S. troops unncessary: Navy Chief

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to form a joint
task force to combat crimes and terrorist threats in the Strait
of Malacca, with the Indonesian Navy chief expecting their
efforts would make a United States presence unnecessary in the
busy sea lane.

Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh said on Thursday
the Indonesian and Singaporean navies had recently held talks
regarding the plan, with further talks to follow between
Indonesia and Malaysia next week.

"On June 27, I will meet the Malaysian navy top brass to
discuss this issue. All technical matters, including the
reinforcement of patrol boats to safeguard the straits, will be
decided after the talks," Bernard said.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the
brevet presentation to crews of the KRI Karel Satsuit Tubun
warships at the Navy's Sea Military Operation Command
headquarters in North Jakarta.

Bernard said special task force units from countries
surrounding the straits would take full control of the strategic
waterway.

"Therefore, it is not necessary to invite troops from outside
the region, including the United States," Bernard said.

He said Indonesia had been joining routine exercises on
safeguarding waterways as part of a forum called the Asia-Pacific
Nations Symposium, which involves 26 marine states.

"(We hope foreign nations) trust in the marine states to
ensure security (in the straits) in a show of respect to our
sovereignty," Bernard said.

He said the U.S. could play a limited role in the area, by
exchanging intelligence information and equipment and training
assistance.

Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of U.S. forces in the Asia
Pacific, suggested recently that U.S. troops could assist in
patrolling the straits to deter terrorists who might target ships
passing through this important trading route.

The U.S. believes international terrorist group al-Qaeda and
its regional network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) plan to target the
straits, where chemical and oil tankers mingle with small craft
that could be equipped to carry out suicide bomb attacks.

While Singapore says it is open to American involvement in
securing the straits, Indonesia and Malaysia are against the
proposal.

Bernard called for the Indonesian government to make a legal
ruling giving the Navy the right to shoot on sight known pirates
who operated in the waterway, saying the country's courts
remained unaware these criminals could become involved in
terrorist activities.

"Once Navy personnel arrested some pirates, but the court
sentenced them to only five or six months in jail. After serving
their terms, (the pirates) repeated the crimes," Bernard said.

More than a quarter of the world's trade including large
amount of oil passes through the narrow straits, which separate
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. While the waterway has seen no
major terrorist attacks, piracy is widespread.