Navy grants ferry to Sangihe administration

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 01/31/2011

The Indonesian Navy granted on Monday a ferry to the Sangihe islands administration, North Sulawesi, to help resolve its protracted sea transportation problems.

Indonesian Navy chief Adm. Seoparno handed over the ferry to the administration, witnessed by among others North Sulawesi Governor Sarundajang.

Sangihe islands deputy regent Jabes Gaghana said the ferry would be used to transport people from Tahuna to Manado and back.

Three Chinese Naval ships making goodwill visit

Antara News, Monday, December 27, 2010

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Three Chinese Navy ships arrived at Indonesia`s Tanjung Priok port on Monday n a goodwill mission during which their crews would execute several programs designed to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

The flotilla`s commander, Major General Wei Xueyi, said in his remarks on arrival that the visit was intended to enhance relations between the two navies and the two countries in general.

The Chinese ships were welcomed by Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue and Brigadier General Arif Suherman, commander of Indonesia`s third navy base (Lantamal III) and members of the Chinese community in Indonesia.

"During our visit, our crews will also take the opportunity to go sightseeing in the Indonesian capital, meet local people, and sample local life. We are very pleased to have this chance of visiting Indonesia," Major General Wei Xueyi said

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Qiyue said the Chinese warships` visit was part of activities to mark 60 years of Indonesia-China diplomatic relations and friendship this year. The visit was also expected to improve the relationship between the navies of the two countries.

During their five-day stay in Indonesia, the Chinese crews are to conduct a series of activities, including visiting Indonesian naval ships , and compete with Indonesian naval personnel in several sports events.

"I hope the visit will improve our communication and understanding with the Indonesian navy as well as the Indonesian people. We also hope the friendship between Indonesia and China will develop further in the future ," he said.

The Chinese flotilla consists of an amphibious landing ship, the Kunlunshan, a destroyer, the Lanzhou, and a supply ship, the Weishanshu and carrying a combined crew of 1,000 men.

It had just completed patrol duties in the Gulf of Aden and in Somali waters to combat sea piracy rampant in those areas.

The flotilla is the sixth China had deployed in the Gulf of Aden and in Somali waters.

The previous five Chinese flotillas in the Gulf of Aden had escorted 2,248 Chinese and foreign ships in 213 batches in this region, which have been plagued by pirate attacks, since December 2008.

The sixth flotilla had escorted 615 ships, including five from Indonesia, during its service period, expelling 190 suspicious boats, saving one ship hijacked by Somali pirates and three others being chased by pirates.

Customs seizes illegal explosives from Malaysia

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/21/2010

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise confiscated 50 tons of ammonium nitrate, a raw material used to produce explosives, from a boat sailing from Malaysia.

Directorate General of Customs and Excise spokesperson Evi Suhartantyo said they stopped the ship flying an Indonesia flag, the KM Salbiana Jaya, in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

The ship, which had a crew of 14, was loaded with 2,000 sacks or 50 tons of explosive ammonium nitrate, and was traveling from Malaysia to Sulawesi.

“The ship has been towed to the Tanjung Balai Karimun office for further investigation. This is a loss for our defense sector as well as for our environment” Evi said, adding that the smuggling attempt would cost the state Rp 2 billion (US$222,000).

TNI asks Netherlands to support frigate building project

Antara News, Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Defense Forces (TNI) has asked the Dutch government to consistently support the development of a light frigate by Indonesian ship-building company PT PAL.

"Yes, we have asked the Dutch to be more consistent in supervising the development of the ship as there are things that PT PAL cannot yet do," TNI spokesman Commodore Iskandar Sitompul said here on Tuesday.

PT PAL is developing a light frigate-type missile destroyer under supervision of Dutch ship-building company Schelde.

Asked about the program after he had attended a closed-door meeting between TNI Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono and Dutch ambassador Tjeerd F De Zwaan, Sitompul said Dutch consistency in helping carry out the program was needed.

"This is done in the framework of revitalizing national defense industry especially PT PAL to meet the needs of TNI weaponry including a light frigate," he said.

The Indonesian navy is striving to improve its combat power in the framework of meeting its minimum strength requirements by modernizing its weaponry. Right now it has 154 warships of various types and the number is to be increased to 274.

With regard to that the defense ministry has launched a light fregat destroyer development program in cooperation with the Netherlands. The ministry expects to build 20 units.

The program is estimated to cost US$220 million and take four years to finish.

Besides discussing the frigate development program they had also discussed various matters relating to the two countries` bilateral relations including the relations between the two countries` armies, he said.

Hospital ship KRI Soeharso sent to Mentawai

Antara News, Wednesday, October 27, 2010 20:35 WIB

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - The naval hospital ship KRI Dr Soeharso has cancelled a journey to Wasior, Papua, and is now preparing to sail to Mentawai to help tsunami victims there.

Naval hospital ship KRI Dr Soeharso

"The ship was supposed to leave today for Wasior but last night the commander of the National Defense Forces (TNI) told the navy chief of staff to cancel the plan and ordered it to go to Mentawai instead," Eastern Fleet Command spokesman Lt Col Yayan Sugiana said here on Wednesday.

The hospital ship is scheduled to leave for Mentawai on Thursday morning and would be there for a month.

"The ship was initially scheduled to conduct a humanitarian mission in Wasior (recently hit by flash floods) for a month. So its task in Mentawai will be the same," he said.

The ship would carry logistics such as food, beverages and medical supplies initially allocated for flood victims in Wasior.

The ship will also carry navy personnel and 22 doctors and nurses experienced in varius disciplines.

He said the Esatern Fleet Command is still waiting for further orders from the TNI commander and the navy chief of staff on assigning more ships to Mentawai.

"For the time being we will send one because three naval ships from the Western Fleet command have already been sent there," he said.

Five naval ships from the Eastern fleet command are now still in Wasior including the KRI Kalakay that carried logistical supplies from Manokwari, Papua.

Several ship crews carry aid into KM Labobar ship at Teluk Bayur port in Padang, West Sumatra, on Friday. Bad weather had hampered distribution of aid and volunteers from Jakarta and Padang to tsunami-hit Mentawai Islands. (JP / Antara/Yudhi Mahatma)

Related Articles:

Indonesian President Promises to Beef Up Crisis Response Agency

Indonesian tsunami zone welcomes aid shipments

Army deploys two battalions to Mentawai

Padang naval base deploys four warships to help Mentawai victims

Indonesia, US navies conduct disaster handling exercise

Antara News, Thursday, July 29, 2010 19:28 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The United States and Indonesian navies held a joint exercise on Wednesday on the handling of natural disasters in integrated ways, a spokesman said.

The exercise which involved about 40 personnel from the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the United States Navy (USN) and Maluku`s Search and Rescue (SAR) team lasted one day, spokesman of the US hospital ship USNS Mercy T-H 19 for Pacific Partnership 2010 Affairs, Daniel Bernardi, said.

"This exercise is held to provide knowledge on how to handle a natural disaster in an integrated way because a natural disaster in one country is different from that in another one," Bernardi said.

So, he said, if a natural disaster happens in a country, rescue workers sent to help mitigate the victims can provide assistance effectively because they already know how to handle it.

He said the joint exercise was divided into two sessions, one was on theories organized at the office of the Maluku governor`s office while the other one was field practice.

Bernardi said that during the Sail Banda event, the Pacific Partership 2010 held a lot of exercises, among others in the health field, emergencies and other types of exercises.

"We call the exercise SMET (Subject Matter Expert Training) which sometimes involve Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the United States," he said.

The USNS Mercy is in Maluku on a Pacific Partnership 2010 mission and to support Operation Surya Bhaskara Jaya which is part of the international yachting event, Sail Banda.

The Pacific Partnership 2010 is an annual humanitarian program of the United States consisting of exercises on the handling of natural disasters in Indonesia.

Singapore navy taking part in Sail Banda

Antara News, Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:30 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The Singapore Navy is ready to support the Bhakti Surya Bhaskara Jaya (SBJ) operations during the international yacht event of Sail Banda 2010, a Singapore Navy commandant said.

"We are ready to support the SBJ activities with a number of medical and construction skilled personnel to rehabilitate schools and worship houses," Commandant of Singapore ship RSS Endeavor-210, Kenny Chen, said.

Kenny Chen met with Ambon`s Naval Base IX deputy commandant Col Eddy Sugiatmo and a number of the Naval Base officers here on Monday. The meeting took place aboard the RSS Endeavour when the Singapore ship berthed at Ambon`s Yos Sudarso pier.

Kenny Chen said he was happy with the opportunity to visit Ambon and other regions in Indonesia to carry out a humanitarian mission in the health field together with other medical teams of the US biggest hospital ship USNS Mercy T-AH 19. USNS Mercy has dropped anchor in Ambon Bay since Monday morning.

Apart from RSS Endeavor and USNS Mercy, Australia also sent two ships of the Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) type from its navy fleet, namely HMAS Labuan and HMAS Tarakan to take part in the humanitarian mission.

Eddy Sugiatmo expressed his thanks for the presence of the medial teams and naval ships of the neighboring countries which came to Ambon to support the SBJ activities held here until August 4, 2010.

"The SBJ operation is one of the Indonesian government and the National Defense Forces (TNI) programs organized to improve the welfare and health of the local people, particularly those living on small islands" he said.

KRI Soeharso to conduct Humanitarian mission in Maluku

Antara News, Saturday, July 3, 2010 16:55 WIB

KRI dr Soeharso 990 - kapal rumah sakit milik TNI-AL (photo : Marinir)

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Navy floating hospital KRI dr. Soeharso-990 will conduct a humanitarian mission in Ambon, Maluku for about six weeks.

Chief of Navy Eastern Fleet Command for public information Major Kariono said here on Saturday that the war ship turned floating hospital would take part in Surya Baskara Jaya health operation service in Maluku as part of Sail Banda 2010 civic mission.

"The Surya Baskara Jaya health service activity at Maluku waters is part of international marine event of Sail Banda 2010," Kariono said.

He said the navy personnel on board KRI Soeharso who join the Surya Baskara Jaya operation would give free health services such as a general treatment, dental treatment, minor and major surgeries, and other medical treatments for the people of coastal and remote areas in Maluku.

"It is the realization of the attention form the Navy and the country to the people at coastal and remote areas who have so far found it difficult to get adequate health services," Kariono said.

KRI dr. Soeharso-990 is a ship with facility equal to B Class Hospital which is completed by Emergency Installation, polyclinic, surgery room, ICU, and treatment room.

This KRI is also used to support program in remote areas, coasts, islands, and the border (DTPK) cooperating with other related ministries.

KRI dr. Soeharso-990 will join Singapore` Navy floating hospital RSS Endeavor and US Navy floating hospital USNS Mercy T-AH 19 to Sail Banda civic mission in Maluku.

On Saturday, July 3, KRI Suharso and USNS Mercy will sail to Buru Island in Central Maluku district and then to Ambon and several other target areas," Wiranto said.

A number of scout personnel, students, youths, medical personnel and paramedics on board the three floating hospitals would give medical and social services to the people living in coastal areas in small islands in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku.

Indonesia to Improve Underwater Defense, US Ties

Jakarta Globe, Harry Suhartono & Nopporn Wong-Anan, June 06, 2010

A Kri Kakra-class submarine of Indonesia on a test run after a revamp by South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering at Okpo 21 February 2006. Indonesia has 2 submarines but hopes to buy 10 more. (AFP Photo/DSME)

Singapore. Indonesia plans to increase the size of its submarine fleet over the next two years to defend its territory as well as protect international shipping lanes, its defense minister said on Saturday.

Purnomo Yusgiantoro also told Reuters the country was discussing buying 10 more C-130 military transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) but had not come to any agreement. Indonesia currently has two submarines.

Singapore put out a warning earlier this year about possible attacks on ships in the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes that lies between the city state, Indonesia and Malaysia and carries about 40 percent of global trade.

“We have several countries that we think are able to supply them (submarines). We want to make sure that it would be compatible to our needs as well as our sea (conditions),” Yusgiantoro said in an interview on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialog security conference in Singapore.

“They are very important in order for us to guard sea lanes. We are going to have that in a couple of years,” he said, without giving further details.

Yusgiantoro also said the government had earmarked funds in this year’s budget to modernize some of its 32 C-130s.

“We can use that (plane) not only to bring troops, but also for humanitarian missions. We are ready to buy but we are still in discussions with the seller.”

Indonesia set aside 42 trillion rupiah ($4.6 billion) in 2010 for defense spending, with most earmarked for operating expenditure for its 550,000-strong military force.

The country plans to boost its defense spending up to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2014 from about 0.7-0.8 percent in 2010, among the lowest in the region.

Yusgiantoro held a meeting with U.S. defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday, which he characterised as “very good”.

Indonesia is currently working to improve its military ties with the United States, including removing a ban on military training for its special forces, put in place over rights abuses blamed on elite troops.

“I think things will become more positive,” Yusgiantoro said, but he did not comment on when the ban was likely to be removed.

Yusgiantoro, a Catholic minister in the world’s most populous Muslim country, said his nation’s defense ties with Washington were akin to a marriage, which could be rocky at times.

“I don’t see any problem with our cooperation. But you know you always have little things going on, something like little arguments between you and your wife after she found a picture of another girl in your pocket,” he said.

Reuters

Indonesia plans to buy more submarines, C-130s

Reuters, By Harry Suhartono and Nopporn Wong-Anan, Sat Jun 5, 2010 10:27am EDT

SINGAPORE, June 5 (Reuters) - Indonesia plans to increase the size of its submarine fleet over the next two years to defend its territory as well as protect international shipping lanes, its defence minister said on Saturday.

Purnomo Yusgiantoro also told Reuters the country was discussing buying 10 more C-130 military transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) but had not come to any agreement.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, lies across shipping lanes between the Indian and Pacific oceans as well as between Asia and Australia, heavily used for transporting commodities and energy. It currently has two submarines.

Singapore put out a warning earlier this year about possible attacks on ships in the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes that lies between the city state, Indonesia and Malaysia and carries about 40 percent of global trade. [ID:nSGE62409F]

"We have several countries that we think are able to supply them (submarines). We want to make sure that it would be compatible to our needs as well as our sea (conditions)," Yusgiantoro said in an interview on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore.

"They are very important in order for us to guard sea lanes. We are going to have that in a couple of years," he said, without giving further details.

Yusgiantoro also said the government had earmarked funds in this year's budget to modernise some of its 32 C-130s.

"We can use that (plane) not only to bring troops, but also for humanitarian missions. We are ready to buy but we are still in discussions with the seller."

Indonesia set aside 42 trillion rupiah ($4.6 billion) in 2010 for defence spending, with most earmarked for operating expenditure for its 550,000-strong military force.

The country plans to boost its defence spending up to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2014 from about 0.7-0.8 percent in 2010, among the lowest in the region.

Yusgiantoro held a meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Friday, which he characterised as "very good".

Indonesia is currently working to improve its military ties with the United States, including removing a ban on military training for its special forces, put in place over rights abuses blamed on elite troops.

"I think things will become more positive," Yusgiantoro said, but he did not comment on when the ban was likely to be removed.

Yusgiantoro, a Catholic minister in the world's most populous Muslim country, said his nation's defence ties with Washington were akin to a marriage, which could be rocky at times.

"I don't see any problem with our cooperation. But you know you always have little things going on, something like little arguments between you and your wife after she found a picture of another girl in your pocket," he said.

RI, A`lian navies to conduct joint exercise in NTT

Antara News, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 21:06 WIB

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) and Australian Navy (RAN) elements grouped in the Cassoex-10 Task Force left for East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Tuesday to conduct a joint exercise.

The Indonesian Navy`s KRI Kerapu-812 and KRI Untung Suropati-872 departed from the Eastern Fleet Command Headquarters in Ujung, Surabaya, East Java.

The warships would be involved in a joint exercise with RAN elements for seven days in Kupang.

According to the chief of the Cassoex-10 Task Force, Lt Col Rudhi Aviantara, the exercise was scheduled to be opened by the commander of the VII Main Naval Base, Commodore Amri Husaini on May 12, 2010.

In the exercise, the RAN would deploy the warships HMAS Bathrust P-85 and HMAS Pirie P-87.

"The warships of the two navies would conduct a manouvering exercise in the Timor Sea and later in Australian waters while they would eventually dock at Darwin port," Rudhi said.

The two countries` navies had already held several exercises under the codename Cassoex. "The two navies consider the exercise mutually beneficial in terms of technical or tactical capabilities," he said.

Therefore, Rudhi hoped the exercises would continue to contribute positively to the boosting of the two countries` diplomatic relations.

RI, US navies to increase cooperation in Asia Pacific

Antara News, Monday, April 12, 2010 20:50 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian and US navies have agreed to increase cooperation in maritime security in Asia Pacific.

It was learned here on Monday following a closed-door meeting between Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Agus Suhartono and the commander of the US 7th Fleet Command, Vice Admiral John M Bird.

"During the meeting, which was meant for a courtesy call, the two also discussed their commitment to increasing maritime cooperation in the region," the Indonesian Navy`s spokesman, Col Herry Setianegara, told ANTARA News.

He said the US Navy`s Seventh Fleet commander`s visit was also meant for deeping the relationship between the two countries` navies that had developed so far.

From its headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan, the US 7th Fleet routinely sailed up to 52 million square miles of a stretch from "International Date Line" to the African Eastern Coast and from the Kuril Islands in the North to Antartics in the South to safeguard US interests.

The commander of the US Fleet holds three main authorities namely being the commander of a joint task force in dealing with natural disasters or military operations, the commander of naval operations in the territory under his jurisdiction which is his daily assignment and a defense commander.

In every meeting with his colleagues in the countries he visited the Fleet commander had always emphasized the importance of cooperation between the US and countries in Asia Pacific including Indonesia.

In connection with it, the US 7th Fleet routinely conducts joint military exercises with a number of Asia Pacific countries such as the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise with Indonesia and the Bilateral Sea Readiness and Training exercise with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.

Indonesian sail ship with Indian motifs leaves Kochi

The Hindu, S. ANANDAN

Indonesian Navy's sail training ship KRI Dewaruci in Kochi.

Photo: Special Arrangement

KRI Dewaruci, a sail training ship of Indonesian Navy with very Indian mythological motifs, left the port here on Tuesday for Salalah in Oman after a three-day goodwill visit.

The vessel, on its 37th voyage — Kartika Jala Krida 2010— lasting about nine months, will call at over 30 ports in 21 countries, mostly European, where it will partake in tall ship races. Its chief mission, however, is to impart training to Indonesian Naval Academy cadets in navigation, meteorology, keeping watch and survival at sea.

Having set sail for the current voyage with a crew of 81, including 16 officers, besides 68 cadets during the second week of March from its homeport at Surabaya, the ship docked at Sabang in Western Indonesia before calling at Kochi on Saturday. During the visit, Colonel I Putu Arya Angga S, Indonesia’s Defence Attache in India, along with Lieutenant Colonel S.H. Suharto, Commanding Officer of the ship, called on Rear Admiral S.S. Jamwal, Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command.

Post-sunset on Monday, at a reception accorded to Indian Navy personnel and a select group of media persons aboard the Dewaruci (seemingly an adaptation of the Sanskrit Devarshi, Guru of the Gods)—named after the God of honesty and bravery — the sailors of the ship showcased a slice of Indonesian culture. The vessel, as the cultural ambassador of Indonesia, has its masts christened after the great Pandavas of the Mahabharata: ‘Yudhistira’, ‘Bima’ and ‘Arjuna’, indicative of the influence Indian legends and myths have had in shaping Java’s philosophy.

Dewaruci was built in 1952 and commissioned the very next year. On Monday, the grand dame’s sailors doubled up as artistes presenting Rantak dance, a traditional martial art-based dance from West Sumatra; War dance, about the story of a warrior from Papua; Badinding dance, which is a show of hospitality; and Rampak Gendang, a traditional percussion ensemble. What stole the show, however, was the most wonderful and bewitching Seni Reog Ponorogo, an East Javanese ethnic dance akin to north-Kerala’s Theyyam. It depicts a mythological, headgear-wearing-beast-in-trance casting off the evil forces in combat.

After the cultural show, Rear Admiral Jamwal congratulated the Indonesian sailors and recalled the historical association India had had with Indonesia.

“During the current voyage, Dewaruci will partake in the historical seas tall ships regatta in Turkey and Greece, the tall ships race 2010 in Aalborg in Denmark, the sail festival Amsterdam in Netherlands, the sail festival Bremenhaven in Germany and the ‘festival internationale Mediterraneo e Velieri in Italy. Besides India, it will visit countries like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Tunisia, Nigeria, Spain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Cyprus, and Sri Lanka,” said Lt Col Suharto.

Talking to The Hindu on ‘Ind-Indo Corpat’, Col Angga termed the coordinated patrol carried out by the Indian and Indonesian Navies along the International Maritime Boundary Line a grand success.

KRI Dewaruci

Maritime Minister – Indonesian Navy Agree to Watch for Fish Thefts

Tempo Interactive, Thursday, 25 March, 2010 | 13:29 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Maritime and Fishery Minister Fadel Muhammad and Indonesian Navy chief of Staff Admiral Agus Suhartono have signed an MoU on maritime and fishery resources development.

“The scope of the agreement includes monitoring, controlling, and surveillance (MCS) system development," Fadel said in his office yesterday.

Fadel explained that the Maritime and Fishery Ministry and the Indonesian Navy will carry out patrols together.

“The patrols are intended to penalize fish thefts and enforcing the law in national jurisdiction waters,” he said.

The supervision has been increased because fishery resources are often stolen by other countries.

Both parties also intensified collaboration in the education sector as well as human resource development.

EKA UTAMI APRILIA

Welcome aboard

The Jakarta Post, Tue, 02/09/2010 5:28 PM, National

Welcome aboard: New Indonesian Navy warship KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368 docks in Biak, Papua. Indonesian Military [TNI] chief Gen. Djoko Santoso officiated at the launch of the new warship, which was made in the Netherlands along with two others, KRI BIRANG-831 and KRI MULGA-832, in Biak on Tuesday. Antara/Col. Suhartono

President asks TNI to help people live in prosperity

Antara News, Sunday, February 7, 2010 17:47 WIB

Pesawaran, Lampung (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed hope that the presence of National Defense Forces (TNI) personnel in many parts of the country can help local people enjoy living in prosperity.

The president made the statement when visiting the Marine Corps forces social activities at the Clara beach, Pesawaran district, Lampung province, Sunday.

"A Marine unit has been established in this region. I hope the Marine unit can work well to improve the community welfare," Yudhoyono said.

During the social service, the Marine corps also provided local people with free health checks by opening a moving hospital equipped with a patients operating room.

"I hope this social service can create good friendship (between the TNI) and the citizens. So please use it well to help the patients," the president said.

President Yudhoyono who on the occasion wore Army green dress also witnessed the Rubber Duck operation demonstration held by the Marines forces on the beach.

A moment earlier, the president witnessed the first demonstration of combat shooting by using three tankfib PT-76s, the shootings by two BVP-2s, by two Howitser 105s and by two RM 70 Grad rockets.

Caligi was used as a Combat Training Center for Marine Corps frogmen command forces.

President Yudhoyono landed at Caligi beach in Padang Cermin subdistrict, Pesawaran district, Lampung province, on an amphibious combat vehicle of the LVT-7 series to observe the Marine Corps exercise.

The president used the amphibious combat vehicle which was carried by the warship (KRI) Surabaya-591 that anchored around two km from the beach.

President Yudhoyono and his entourage on board KRI Surabaya-591 left Merak seaport in Banten province on Saturday night for Lampung.

The amphibious combat vehicle with code number 1 which brought the president was on the fourth order of the Marines vehicle landing process in attacking a simulated enemy force at Caligi Beach.

Navy patrol arrests illegal coal carrying tugboat

Antara News, Tuesday, February 2, 2010 03:08 WIB

Surabaya (ANTARA News) - An Indonesian navy patrol boat arrested a coal-carrying vessel in the Sulawesi strait after all the ten crew members of the tugboat were unable to produce legal papers.

Spokesman for the Eastern Fleet Command Lt Col Toni Saiful said here Monday the tugboat is now in the custody of the Tarakan naval base in East Kalimantan.

The tugboat had 8,000 tons of coal in its holds when stopped by the navy patrol boat when sailing from Nunukan to Tarakan.

For further investigation, the tugboat is currently held at the Tarakan naval base.

Navy has difficulties monitoring waste dumping

Antara News, Saturday, January 30, 2010 22:51 WIB

Batam (ANTARA News) - It is difficult to monitor foreign ships dumping waste in international waters that has eventually polluted the Batam coastline, navy chief of staff Vice Admiral Agus Suhartono said here on Saturday.

"Because the area is narrow it will be our waters that will suffer the pollution from wastes dumped by ships in the waters outside ours," he said.

He said the activity had so far been carried out in the waters outside our territory while our patrol boats only operated in the country`s territorial waters.

"We have the boats standing by in our territory," he said.

He said the naval patrol boats had never known the ships that had dumped wastes in the sea causing pollution on the coast and waters of Batam island.

"Our boats only find the waste but not the ships that have dumped it," he said.

He said the Indonesian navy was eager to seize the ships that have caused pollution in the country`s waters.

He said the navy would probably develop a radar system to monitor the movement of ships likely to dump wastes. "We will also stand by. We will implement it," he said.

Seven navy ships conduct patrol between Indonesia and Singapore waters and four others in the Malacca Strait every day.

He said the number is sufficient to patrol the narrow area.

Every north monsoon oil sludge flows in the Batam island waters. Tons of oil sludge polluted Tanjung Memban in January this year. When discovered the sludge had reached the coast and stucked to the sand so that it was difficult to remove. The waste has damaged the waters ecosystem of the coast of Batam island.

Indonesia`s new corvette backs UNIFIL mission

Antara News, Monday, January 18, 2010 21:24 WIB

Indonesian navy officials welcome the arrival of KRI Hasanuddin 366 warship at Tanjung Priok port, Jakarta (29/1/2008). A new 1,600-ton warship manufactured in the Netherlands was armed with surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine missiles and electronic warfare equipment. (ANTARA Photo/Fouri Gesang Sholeh/kim)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Navy will deploy a "Sigma" class corvette to support its peace mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in April 2010.

Vice Admiral Agus Suhartono told ANTARA News here Monday that the Indonesian warship, "KRI Frans Kasiepo-368", would officially be inaugurated before joining the Maritime Task Force (MTF)in Lebanon.

"We are inaugurating the Dutch-made Sigma class corvette as the part of the Indonesian warship fleet in February before backing the mission," the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff said.

It would leave for the Lebanese waters in March and would arrive there in April, he said after opening the 48th regular upgrading of the Indonesian Navy`s Staff and Command School here.

Before sending KRI Frans-Kasiepo, the TNI had deployed the KRI-Diponegoro-365 to support the Garuda XCXVIII-A contingent`s mission. The warship has been on duty for almost a year.

KRI Frans-Kasiepo, one of the Sigma class corvettes that Indonesia ordered from the Netherlands, has been joining the TNI fleet since its arrival in 2008.

This Sigma class corvette has even met the UN and NATO standards to support the UN peace mission.

Suhartono said the United Nations has highly appreciated the Indonesian participation in its peace mission in Lebanon. "Therefore, the UN has again asked us to deploy our warship," he said.

The TNI contingent in Lebanon joins those from countries such as Belgium, Greece, and Germany.

Minister to form agency to keep outer islands secure

Antara News, Saturday, January 9, 2010 16:45 WIB

Surabaya (ANTARA News) - Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he would soon form a National Agency for Border Management to ensure the security of 200 outlying islands through military and non-military approaches.

"The defense tasks of the national agency will be managed by the Defense Ministry while its economic and social tasks will be overseen by the home affairs minister. But we will continue to monitor the implementation of the agency`s tasks," Purnomo said at a function to inaugurate the Veteran National Development University (UPN) here on Saturday.

On the occasion also attended by political and military observer Muhadjir Effendy MAP, the defense minister said the formation of the agency was a strategic measure to safeguard national sovereignty over the 200 outlying islands.

"The economic and other activities the agency is to initiate on the islands will be an effective form of defense against any possible attempt by other countries to lay territorial claims to any of the islands," Purnomo said.

The existence of the economic and other activities on the islands would be an effective strategy to maintain the integrity and sovereignty of Indonesia.

"Therefore all related institutions such as the Defense Ministry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, Forestry Ministry, and other departments should be in one accord to maintain the country`s sovereignty through non-military appraches," Purnomo said.

Meanwhile, military observer Muhadjir Effendy MAP of Malang Muhammadiyah University said there should be a radical change in relation with the security at the outlying islands and the borderline with other countries.

"Such a security measure should be made immediately because certain neighboring countries have already tried to make claims to a number of the outlying islands," Effendy said.

Therefore, he added, the government should provide funds and make integrated efforts to ensure the security at border areas across the country. Also, he said, the number of security personnel in border areas should be increased.