TNI Guarantees Security in Malacca Strait
Tuesday, 13 February, 2007 | 13:21 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian Military (TNI) guarantees traffic security in the Malacca Straits. The guarantee is especially shown by the decline in piracy cases in the area. “We have increased security in the Malacca Strait,” said TNI Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Slamet Soebijanto, after accompanying Japan’s Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Eiji Yoshikawa to meet with Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono, yesterday (12/2).

The Malacca Straits has been well known as a piracy-ridden area especially around the Riau Islands. This is because the area borders Singapore, the world’s main traffic port. and criminals use the area to commit smuggling, piracy or other illegal acts.

To overcome the security threat in the area, the government coordinated personnel under the command of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. The members consist of 12 institutions including the Defense Department, Foreign Affairs Department, Home Affairs Department, Transportation Department and the police.

According to Slamet, currently the TNI Navy has made patrol ships ready in the strait that is inter-continental traffic. The efforts managed to lower crime rate in Malacca Strait within the last three years. In 2004, there were 30 piracies, in 2005, they fell to 15 and in 2006 there were only two piracy cases.

Japan has an interest in security in the Malacca and Lombok Straits. Almost all of the commercial ships pass by the two straits. In the meeting at the Defense Department, Indonesia and Japan agreed to hold a program of cooperation improvement. This includes sea situation information exchange, soldier exchange and joint training.

This year the plan of soldier exchange for education will be realized soon. “Navy to navy talk or staff talk will also be implemented this year, especially for TNI Navy relations in the future,” said Slamet.

Dian Yuliastuti