ID :
20809
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 20:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20809
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FOUR SURVEILLANCE RADARS TO BE INSTALLED IN MAKASSAR STRAIT SOON
Jakarta, Sept 23 (ANTARA) - Four surveillance radars provided by the United States will soon be installed in the Makassar Strait to enhance martime security in one of Indonesia's main archipelagic channels and in the ASEAN region in general, a minister said.
"We expect the radars to be operational by the end of October or early November this year," Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said here Tuesday.
The Indonesian government had agreed to the installation of seven surveillance radars from the US in the Makassar Strait, he said.
"The US government is committed to helping Indonesia build its capacity to secure its maritime territory. One of the ways is by providing the surveillance radars," Sudarsono said.
Indonesia had been proposing installing the radars since 2006, but it could only be realized in stages starting this year, he added.
The main function of the radars was to prevent terrorists from operating or moving in the waters.
"It accords with ASEAN's commitment about maritime defense and security in the ASEAN region," Sudarsono said.
In the Asia-Pacific region, including ASEAN and Indonesia, guaranteed security in 'Sea Lines of Communication' (SLOC - the primary maritime routes between ports used for trade, logistics and naval forces) was a vital need of those involved in maritime traffic in the two areas, he noted.
"Therefore, the installation of the surveillance radars is very important because Indonesia's straits are used by ships carrying about 38 percent of world trade," he said, adding that the radars would be guarded by Indonesian personnel.
"No American people or officers will be allowed to handle the radars on Indonesian territory," Sudarsono said.
Previously, the US government had also given Indonesia five surveillance radars which were set up along the Malacca Strait to maintain security in one of the busiest sealanes in the world.
Since July 2004, security in the Malacca Strait has been maintained jointly by the three littoral countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
The three-nation cooperation has already resulted in a 70-percent decrease in the incidence of criminal activity in the Malacca Strait.
"We expect the radars to be operational by the end of October or early November this year," Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said here Tuesday.
The Indonesian government had agreed to the installation of seven surveillance radars from the US in the Makassar Strait, he said.
"The US government is committed to helping Indonesia build its capacity to secure its maritime territory. One of the ways is by providing the surveillance radars," Sudarsono said.
Indonesia had been proposing installing the radars since 2006, but it could only be realized in stages starting this year, he added.
The main function of the radars was to prevent terrorists from operating or moving in the waters.
"It accords with ASEAN's commitment about maritime defense and security in the ASEAN region," Sudarsono said.
In the Asia-Pacific region, including ASEAN and Indonesia, guaranteed security in 'Sea Lines of Communication' (SLOC - the primary maritime routes between ports used for trade, logistics and naval forces) was a vital need of those involved in maritime traffic in the two areas, he noted.
"Therefore, the installation of the surveillance radars is very important because Indonesia's straits are used by ships carrying about 38 percent of world trade," he said, adding that the radars would be guarded by Indonesian personnel.
"No American people or officers will be allowed to handle the radars on Indonesian territory," Sudarsono said.
Previously, the US government had also given Indonesia five surveillance radars which were set up along the Malacca Strait to maintain security in one of the busiest sealanes in the world.
Since July 2004, security in the Malacca Strait has been maintained jointly by the three littoral countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
The three-nation cooperation has already resulted in a 70-percent decrease in the incidence of criminal activity in the Malacca Strait.
