Warships readied to deter possible incursions

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands

The Indonesian Navy is preparing to deploy its warships to prevent a foreign incursion on the pretext of conducting military exercises in the waters of Natuna regency in Riau Islands province, a senior officer said over the weekend.

The Navy's Western Fleet commander, Rear Adm. Agus Suhartono, said the Singaporean Navy tried to enter Indonesian territorial waters in May to conduct a military exercise with a number of other foreign navies.

"Although both Singapore and Indonesia have signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), Singapore is still not allowed to conduct military exercises in the waters of Riau Islands province," he told The Jakarta Post.

Agus said Indonesian warships "escorted" Singaporean warships out of Natuna waters when they attempted to enter the region.

"It was not an incident... the Navy was just trying to protect the country by preventing our brothers (the Singaporeans) from entering our territory.

"Based on an existing law, they (the Singapore military) do not have the right to enter our territory."

Local media Batam Pos reported on May 21 seven foreign warships -- involving French, Japanese and U.S. warships in addition to Singaporean warships -- tried to enter Indonesian waters.

Routine operations are currently being carried out in the Malacca and Singapore straits by the Indonesian Navy's sea security task force, while the Navy's sea combat task force is conducting operations in Natuna waters.

"Should they (Singapore) repeat their attempts to enter Natuna waters, we will quickly deploy our warships," Agus said.

The speaker of the Riau Islands provincial legislature, Nur Safriadi, has opposed the DCA granting Singapore the right to conduct military exercises in the province.

The controversial DCA, together with an extradition treaty, was signed on April 27 at Tampaksiring Palace in Bali by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda and his Singaporean counterpart George Yeo in the presence of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The DCA allows the Singaporean armed forces to involve other foreign militaries in its exercises, although it first needs to seek Indonesia's permission and must allow Indonesia to send observers to overlook all exercises.

Singapore is permitted to use three locations in Indonesia for training -- Alpha and Bravo areas in Natuna waters (which face the South China Sea) for air force and naval exercises, and the Baturaja training grounds in South Sumatra for ground exercises.

Implementation agreements for the defense pact are currently stalled over a dispute on the Bravo area.