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.