ID :
62681
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 10:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/62681
The shortlink copeid
RI NOT TO INCREASE NAVAL FLEET IN AMBALAT
Jakarta, May 26 (ANTARA) - Indonesia will not increase the strength of its naval fleet in Ambalat waters following border violations by Malaysian naval vessels, Indonesian Navy Chief Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said here on Tuesday.
The Indonesian Navy chief said the six warships that had been deployed to guard the border in the area so far were already enough.
"We are also assisted by KPLP (sea and coastal guards unit) personnel, police and officers of the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry in guarding the Ambalat area. So, we do not need additional naval strength there," the Navy chief said.
He said border violations could occur because there were no clear markers of the Indonesia-Malaysia border in Ambalat waters.
Both sides had a legal basis to claim part of the area. Malaysia used the 1979 map which showed Ambalat as being part of its territory while Indonesia used the international law of the sea as the basis of its claim. "So, both have a legal basis," he said.
Purdijanto said what was important was that the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) should continue to maintain security in the Ambalat area until a definite decision on the borderlines between two nations was reached.
"We have asked the Foreign Ministry to finish the border issue between Indonesia and Malaysia in the Ambalat area as soon as possible so that violations will no longer take place," he said.
TNI AL spokesman Iskandar Sitompul disclosed that TNI AL's warship 'KRI Untung Surapati-872 drove away a Malaysian warship, Kd Yu-3508, which attempted to enter Indonesian waters in the Ambalat Block on Monday.
When it was carrying out its task to guard the Sulawesi waters, KRI Untung Surapati-872 detected the Malaysian warship YU-3508 of the Fast Attack Craft type at the northern 04.03.00 - eastern 118.01.70 position, exactly in the Ambalat Block area. The Malaysian ship was sailing at a speed of 16 knots.***4***
T.R018
The Indonesian Navy chief said the six warships that had been deployed to guard the border in the area so far were already enough.
"We are also assisted by KPLP (sea and coastal guards unit) personnel, police and officers of the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry in guarding the Ambalat area. So, we do not need additional naval strength there," the Navy chief said.
He said border violations could occur because there were no clear markers of the Indonesia-Malaysia border in Ambalat waters.
Both sides had a legal basis to claim part of the area. Malaysia used the 1979 map which showed Ambalat as being part of its territory while Indonesia used the international law of the sea as the basis of its claim. "So, both have a legal basis," he said.
Purdijanto said what was important was that the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) should continue to maintain security in the Ambalat area until a definite decision on the borderlines between two nations was reached.
"We have asked the Foreign Ministry to finish the border issue between Indonesia and Malaysia in the Ambalat area as soon as possible so that violations will no longer take place," he said.
TNI AL spokesman Iskandar Sitompul disclosed that TNI AL's warship 'KRI Untung Surapati-872 drove away a Malaysian warship, Kd Yu-3508, which attempted to enter Indonesian waters in the Ambalat Block on Monday.
When it was carrying out its task to guard the Sulawesi waters, KRI Untung Surapati-872 detected the Malaysian warship YU-3508 of the Fast Attack Craft type at the northern 04.03.00 - eastern 118.01.70 position, exactly in the Ambalat Block area. The Malaysian ship was sailing at a speed of 16 knots.***4***
T.R018
