Indonesia will reject any effort to make the Malacca Strait problem an international issue because internationalization would open an opportunity for foreign forces` involvement in securing the busiest waterway in the Asia Pacific, Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said here on Wednesday.

Radjasa who was here as a special emissary of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the funeral of former Japanese prime minister Kiichi Miyazawa said on Tuesday, Indonesia`s stance on the matter was clear, namely the security of the strait was in the hands of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia as the littoral countries.

"The Malacca Strait comes under the territorial sovereignty of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Countries outside them are mere users of the strait so they have no right to be involved in safeguarding it by deploying their forces there," he said.

Indonesia had always reiterated its stance because it still saw efforts by certain quarters to internationalize the matter to enable foreign forces to get involved in securing the strait.

It was enough for user countries to contribute through cooperation to increase the littoral states` security maintenance capability.

Hatta said user countries could contribute by providing patrol vessels or technology to increase the three countries` capability in securing the strait. "Let the joint patrols be carried out by the littoral countries," he added.

The minister noted the three countries had already agreed to divide the strait into three marine and air patrol areas with each of them assuming responsibility for security in one area.

Japan was already aware of Indonesia`s sensitivity in the matter but also considered it important to see the matter in a wider context.

Japan`s foreign ministry spokesman Mitsuo Sakaba told ANTARA recently Japan admitted the important role of Indonesia in securing the waterway.

"However, problems like piracy, arms smuggling and others could also disrupt regional economic growth so that international cooperation is needed to deal with them," he said.

He said Japan could understand Indonesia`s objections to a cooperation agreement signed by 14 Asian countries on the issue but would continue to invite Indonesia to join it.

It was agreed in the Asean Regional Forum in Bali last week that the security of the strait was the sovereignty of the three littoral countries.

Other countries would only be allowed to conduct cooperation indirectly such as providing training and radar.

The 14th meeting co-hosted by Indonesia and China was also attended by non-Asean member countries such as Mongolia, Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Chinese foreign ministry`s director of Asian affairs, Yu Hong, said China accepted and respected the territorial sovereignty of the littoral countries over the strait and was ready to help them with non-military assistance.

Indonesia continued approaching the US and Japan to make them understand its stance because the two countries were the biggest users of the waterway.(*)


http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/8/29/ri-rejects-any-effort-to-internationalize-malacca-strait/