National

TNI Commander: Number of Warships in Ambalat Not Reduced
Tuesday, 26 April, 2005 | 18:42 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has said there has not yet been a decrease in the number of Indonesian warships in the Sulawesi Sea, which has become an object of dispute with Malaysia.

The TNI Commander went on to confirm that he had not yet received any reports that Malaysia has lessened its forces in the said area.

According to Sutarto, Indonesian Navy ships must be present in national waters.

“Regarding how many ships are necessary depend on the security situation,” he said following a meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and People’s Republic of China President Hu Jintao at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (25/04).

Malaysian Prime Minister Deputy Najib Tun Razak on Sunday (24/04) said that Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to lessen the presence of both countries’ patrol ships at the Ambalat block in the Sulawesi Sea.

In addition, the Indonesian Navy said that both countries had agreed to maintain the same strength of troops and ships in this area.

Regarding the TNI plan to purchase submarines to guard national waters, Sutarto said that this is yet able to be put into realization.

According to the TNI Commander, the TNI is still formulating what equipment needs to be purchased in order to strengthen the monitoring of national waters.

“We do not yet have the budget. So what can we buy now?” said Sutarto. (FX Dimas Adityo-Tempo News Room)