Government Finalizing Technical Security Of Sea Territory With Philippines

JAKARTA, Sept 15 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is finalizing technicalities for ensuring security of the Sulu waters territory where acts of piracy and kidnapping of crews have taken place. The move follows the signing of a joint agreement between President Joko Widodo and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last week. The deal comes in continuation of the trilateral meeting among the defense ministers of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, held in Bali in August 2016, where the issue of joint maritime patrolling was discussed. "Cooperation in maritime joint patrolling was agreed to by the defense ministers in Bali. Such patrolling has been strengthened following the joint statement of the two presidents. The deal will be described operationally by ministers for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs, and the Navy," said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Wiranto, at his office here on Wednesday. Joint sea patrols, according to Wiranto, will be followed by formulating codes of conduct (COC), determination of boundaries and territorial sea corridor. The COC cannot be easily formulated because it relates to the laws in force in each country, including the Philippine constitution which prohibits any foreign military intervention in the country¿s sovereign territory. However, Wiranto explained that the agreement between President Jokowi and President Duterte opened up opportunities for the Indonesian authorities to deal with pirates who often target commercial ships manned by Indonesian citizens. "For example, there are robbers who fled to the border. If there is no agreement (between heads of state), then we are forced to pull back, and we cannot go in pursuit. But with this agreement, we can pursue and overpower them," he elaborated. Earlier, Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu had informed that the Indonesian Navy was coordinating to ensure security of sea lanes for particular commercial ships passing through Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. "If these vessels are to be secured, then there must be a route. Indonesian Navy is the one that knows the matter," he added. He was confident that the trilateral maritime patrolling could begin this year, and added that coordination was on with the Malaysian Defense Minister. "I will meet again with the Malaysian Defense Minister so that they soon start patrolling in the Sulu waters where hostage taking incidents have happened repeatedly," Minister Ryamizard stressed. After Indonesian citizens fell victim to hostage taking by Philippine separatist group of Abu Sayyaf four times, the government increased the security by alerting soldiers to escort merchant ships carrying coal exports to the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry, AM Fachir, disclosed that nine citizens who were still being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf were in good condition. Although the armed groups have declared a deadline of September 20 for payment of ransom, he was optimistic that the citizens could be rescued. "We must remain optimistic. The bottom line is that we have been keeping in touch with stakeholders at all levels. As per the information we have received, they are in a safe condition," he assured.