Indonesia, India to Intensify Security Precautions in Andaman Waters
April 4, 2009, Jakarta -- Indonesia and India will intensify security in Andaman`s territorial waters in anticipation of security disturbances in the region.
Spokesman for the Military (TNI) headquarters in Jakarta Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said here on Thursday that by doing so, all kinds of threats including those posed by the entry of Tamil Tiger rebels into Indonesia could be prevented.
"Till now, the security situation in the Andaman sea is still conducive, as no Tamil tiger rebels had entered Indonesia thanks to regular joint patrols in the waters," he said.
Code-named Indindocorpat, the joint patrol was held twice a year under a protocol signed by the navies of the two countries.
The first Indindocorpat was held in September 2002 and at least nine joint patrols had been conducted by the two countries.
According to the two sides, the patrol was proven to have benefited the two countries in dealing with piracy, smuggling, territorial transgression and inter-state crime in the Andaman sea.
Earlier, Indonesia pledged to the Sri Lankan government that its territory would not be used by Tamil tiger rebels.
The guaranty was conveyed by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda during his visit to Sri Lanka on March 29-30, 2009.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Teuku Faizasyah during a meeting in Grosvenor House of JW Marriot Hotel in London on Tuesday said that so far there was no precedence or report on activities of Tamil tigers in Indonesia.
However, the Sri Lankan government asked Indonesia to prevent the Tamil tiger fighters to enter its territory for military training purposes. (Antara)