National

TNI Navy Chief: US Presence in Malacca Straits Not Needed
Friday, 18 June, 2004 | 07:19 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian Military (TNI) Navy chief, Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh, has stated that the establishment of a US-military base would not be required in the efforts to secure Malacca Straits.

“We need no support from other countries aside than those nearby the Straits to secure the Malacca Straits,” said Sondakh at the Tanjung Priok Military Maritime Cross Command harbor in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, on Thursday (17/06).

According to Sondakh, the Navy is still capable of securing the area.

Moreover, he said, Indonesia is still a sovereign country and its people have their dignity.

“Tell all those people who want to send their help to us that I only need to share intelligence information and training facilities with them,” Sondakh stated.

Sondakh said that he rejected the US’s intention to help securing the Malacca Straits as Indonesia has already been involved in an organization, called West Pacific Nation Symposium, which members, consisting of 26 countries, which conducted joint-military training in Singapore sometime ago.

“In this organization, we share intelligence information, equipment support and even training support,” stated Sondakh. (Yandhrie Arvian - Tempo News Room)