http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1901&Itemid=178
Indonesia, Malaysia Face Off at Sea
Written by Our Correspondent
Friday, 29 May 2009
A research-rich Celebes Sea block spurs a confrontation between two
navies
An unlikely naval confrontation has broken out between Indonesia and
Malaysia, with warships from the two nations challenging each other repeatedly
in the disputed oil-rich waters of the Celebes Sea east of the island of Borneo
this week.
Indonesian navy officials told local media their ships were minutes away
from firing on Malaysian warships, which they charged were 12 nautical miles
inside Indonesia's territory. However, they said, they called off the attack
when the Malaysian ships pulled back.
Indonesian officials said the Malaysian Navy and Marine Police have
intruded into Indonesian waters at least nine times since the beginning of the
year. Najib Tun Razak, on his first state visit overseas after being named
Malaysia's prime minister in April, met with Indonesian President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta on April 23 in an attempt to resolve the matter.
An attaché at the Malaysia embassy in Jakarta refused comment and asked
that his name not be used, saying only that "we are still awaiting a response
from Kuala Lumpur. " The only information the embassy had on the situation, he
said, came from Indonesian television and newspapers.
In Kuala Lumpur, the continuing confrontation has not been covered in the
media. "They usually black out things like this," said a Kuala Lumpur
government source.
The ill-defined sea border straddles the eastern Kalimantan province of
Borneo and western Sulawesi on the Indonesian side and Sabah in northern
Borneo. The navies have been challenging each other ever since significant oil
reserves were found there. In March of 2005, Indonesia accused a Malaysian
naval vessel, the KD Renchong, of ramming the 36-meter KRI Tedung Nava patrol
boat, causing minor damage to both vessels. The Malaysian navy has repeatedly
chased Indonesian fishermen out of the area, with Indonesia accusing Malaysia
of scores of violations of its territory.
Both countries have awarded oil concessions to Shell, Unocal, and ENI
respectively in the disputed region. Both have delivered protest notes to each
other. Demonstrations have ensued in Indonesia, with some protesters calling to
"crush Malaysia." With a presidential election approaching in July, a little
rocket-rattling never hurts.
In the current incident, Lt. Col. Toni Syaiful, spokesman for the Navy's
Surabaya-based Eastern Fleet Command, was quoted by the Jakarta Globe as saying
the Malaysian Fast Attack Craft Gun craft penetrated into Indonesian territory
at dawn Monday, calling it the "worst incident" of its kind because Malaysian
naval vessels previously had only intruded "several miles."
The Malaysians, Syaiful said, also ignored demands from the captain of an
Indonesian corvette to retreat. "[Despite] being warned twice, they just moved
away several meters," he told the newspaper "Eventually, the commander of KRI
Untung Suropati, Capt. Salim, made the decision to assume combat readiness.
Only then did the Malaysians decide to flee."
Six Indonesian warships are patrolling the area, with another seven of
the Indonesian navy's 30 craft on alert, according to Indonesian Navy Chief
Adm. Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno. The Eastern Fleet Command estimated that the
Malaysian Navy had as many as four warships in the area.
Indonesian Army Chief Gen. Djoko Santoso was quoted as saying Malaysian
warships have often violated Indonesian territory in the disputed waters
because both sides have solid legal ground for their claims over the Ambalat
area.
"The disputed borders between the two countries in Ambalat should be
resolved immediately," Djoko said, adding that he hoped border negotiations
could be settled soon so that the Indonesian military did not have to build up
its forces in the area.
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