Quote:
|
Originally Posted by pasukangeraktjepat Just another reason why we should have a sufficient naval force
RI demands extradition of Malaysian officers over trespassing incident
JAKARTA (Antara): Indonesia has requested the extradition of Malaysian officers for allegedly foiling an arrest of illegal fishermen, foreign ministry spokesman Yuri Thamrin said on Friday.
Yuri said that the Malaysian officers aboard a warship demanded the release of three Malaysian trawlers being escorted on Wednesday to a nearby port for illegally fishing in Indonesian waters.
"They clearly violated our maritime territory," Yuri said.
The government has also conveyed a strong protest message to the Malaysian government accusing Kuala Lumpur of violating Indonesian territory after the Malaysian warship was spotted off Jemur island, technically part of North Sumatra province, he said.
"We have sent a protest note to the Malaysian government, demanding an investigation," he said. The neighboring countries have been involved in heated arguments for months over the possession of a lucrative oil-producing areas in the Sulawesi Sea. Both have deployed warships to the area and traded accusations of maritime border violations
|
RI Files Complaint Over Territorial Violation by KL
Friday, July 29, 2005
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia has lodged a protest with the Malaysian government over the foiled
arrest of a number of fishermen aboard three Malaysian trawlers and a possible
territorial violation.
Director of the Water Police squad Brig. Gen. N. Sutisna said on Thursday the
fish poachers had used the presence of an incoming Malaysian warship and
helicopter to evade their arrest by Indonesian officers.
The incident took place in the waters off Jumhur island in North Sumatra on
Wednesday, when the police patrol boat was escorting the Malaysian trawlers to
the nearest port, according to Sutisna.
"We let go of the fish poachers as we were forced at gun point by the
Malaysian seamen. They intimidated us and made our officers go aboard the
Malaysian
naval ship," Sutisna said.
When asked if the Malaysian warship had trespassed Indonesian waters, Sutisna
said: "It's a clear intrusion into Indonesian territory."
Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials were not available for comment on
Thursday.
The incident added to previous territorial disputes involving Indonesian and
Malaysian military officers. Indonesian and Malaysian warships brushed with
each other on April 8 in the border area near disputed oil and gas block
Ambalat in the Sulawesi Sea.
Sutisna said the latest incident began when the patrolling water police
intercepted the Malaysian trawlers in three separate locations in North
Sumatra waters, near the international lane of the Strait of Malacca.
"We captured the first trawler, bearing registration number PKSB 57, at 6:30
a.m. local time around 11 nautical miles from Jumur island and found the
second, PKSB 646, around 15 miles from the island at 7:30 a.m.. The third
trawler was located half an hour after the second boat was intercepted," Sutisna said, adding that the three trawlers were poaching in Indonesian waters.
Sutisna said several police officers had been placed in each of the trawlers
en route to the nearest port, where the fishermen would undergo questioning. (this is a good track record?? three trawlers in one go...good one)
"Suddenly we saw a Malaysian warship KP Knembela 14 and a M-502 helicopter approaching," Sutisna said.
Encouraged by the arrival of the Malaysian warship and helicopter, the
fishermen put up a fight, using machetes and iron bars.
"Since they are foreign citizens we did not fight back. We were outnumbered," Sutisna said.(thanks, hmm..nice of U though)
He said the trawlers were released after an argument with the Malaysian navy officers.(well just a heated one, no one hurt, this is what we called sea diplomacy)
"We contacted the Malaysian police afterward, asking them to arrest the
poachers and hand them over to us. But so far we haven't received any
respond," Sutisna said.
He added that he had contacted foreign ministry officials who were in a
meeting with their Malaysian counterparts in Yogyakarta for talks on the
Ambalat dispute.
"We were told the ministry would lodge a strong protest with the Malaysian
government regarding the incident," Sutisna said.
Source from The Jakarta Post
Friday, July 29, 2005 (unless in bracket)
p/s so many reports from Indonesian report on can be find on this issue, I hardly saw any report from Malaysian press...they might busy writing other things.
Just a note:
It is a known among Malaysian fisherman to pay large sum of money to a `group with heavy weapons' when they board their fishing vessel or their vessel being pulled to our `thy neighbour land'. Not sure about this particular case though. It is a thin line of maritime border at the straits, we never to sure where we are.
IN do need a large patrol ship. In addition, a good rewards to the IN personel also required, this will give them a good motivation. Our army just received an increase salary package, this at least will enhances their spirit. Malaysia always believe in the idea of prospering the neighbour. Eventhough I still remember the slogan `Ganyang Malaysia!!' utter by the citizen of Indonesia. But there will be no war. We now are too much dependence to each other.
But who knows ? maybe 15-20 years later we can get that ship.
