ID :
64284
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 20:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/64284
The shortlink copeid
PRESIDENT: GOVT NEVER LENIENT ON BORDER VIOLATIONS IN AMBALAT
Jakarta, June 4 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is seeking reelection in July, said the Indonesian government had never been lenient in its attitude on the Ambalat issue.
"The government has never been lenient on the border violations committed by Malaysian warships in Ambalat waters," Yudhoyono said in a talk show hosted by Anteve TV station here on Thursday.
Yudhoyono said that as president, he had ordered the Navy and Air Force to take resolute action against intrusions into Indonesian territory by Malaysian warships in Ambalat waters in East Kalimantan.
"Not a single inch of our territory should be allowed to be taken by any foreign party," Yudhoyono said, adding that although he had ordered military personnel to drive away any intruder in Ambalat, they should not open fire.
"Although we have to drive intruders away, we don't need to open fire on them unless absolutely necessary," said the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party.
He said if there was a problem between the two countries, there would be two choices, namely to wage war or to work out a peaceful settlement.
President Yudhoyono said that in his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak recently, he reminded the latter that Indonesia wanted to overcome the Ambalat issue through dialog.
At a meeting with National Defense Forces (TNI) leaders and related officials at the presidential office on Wednesday, Yudhoyono asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to intensify its negotiations with Malaysia over the Ambalat issue.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS to the press after the gathering said that the president chaired the meeting to discuss various issues related to domestic security including the intrusion of several Malaysian warships into Indonesian waters in the Ambalat block.
Widodo said the president at the meeting asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to speed up its negotiations with Malaysia over the Ambalat issue.
"The government has never been lenient on the border violations committed by Malaysian warships in Ambalat waters," Yudhoyono said in a talk show hosted by Anteve TV station here on Thursday.
Yudhoyono said that as president, he had ordered the Navy and Air Force to take resolute action against intrusions into Indonesian territory by Malaysian warships in Ambalat waters in East Kalimantan.
"Not a single inch of our territory should be allowed to be taken by any foreign party," Yudhoyono said, adding that although he had ordered military personnel to drive away any intruder in Ambalat, they should not open fire.
"Although we have to drive intruders away, we don't need to open fire on them unless absolutely necessary," said the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party.
He said if there was a problem between the two countries, there would be two choices, namely to wage war or to work out a peaceful settlement.
President Yudhoyono said that in his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak recently, he reminded the latter that Indonesia wanted to overcome the Ambalat issue through dialog.
At a meeting with National Defense Forces (TNI) leaders and related officials at the presidential office on Wednesday, Yudhoyono asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to intensify its negotiations with Malaysia over the Ambalat issue.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS to the press after the gathering said that the president chaired the meeting to discuss various issues related to domestic security including the intrusion of several Malaysian warships into Indonesian waters in the Ambalat block.
Widodo said the president at the meeting asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to speed up its negotiations with Malaysia over the Ambalat issue.
