TNI Moves to Secure Ambalat

The Indonesian Military (TNI) will move to secure the disputed oil-rich Ambalat territory, amid renewed tensions between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, TNI chief Gen. Djoko Santoso said on Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com.

TNI would continue to guard the border areas but would leave the dispute solution to the government, Djoko said.

Ambalat is a maritime area located off the eastern coast of Kalimantan, which both Indonesia and Malaysia claim as their territory.

Indonesia recently accused Malaysian battleships of entering Indonesian territorial waters surrounding Ambalat. Malaysian naval ships have breached the disputed zone several times. According to the TNI, this was the ninth time Malaysia had breached the law in 2009.

The dispute over the maritime bloc, believed to be rich in oil and gas, has been increasing tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia since the 1980s.

Jakarta Post

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Indonesia to Send Diplomatic Note to Malaysia over Ambalat

Indonesia has decided to resolve diplomatically its border spat with Malaysia over the oil-rich Ambalat waters off East Kalimantan.

The move comes amid escalating tensions and widely spouted war rhetoric churned up by Malaysia’s frequent incursions into the disputed area.

The call for diplomacy comes just before scheduled border talks between the two countries.

Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said at a press conference Wednesday he would send a letter, through Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Djoko Santoso, to Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda, requesting a diplomatic note.

Tedjo added Indonesia would not increase its military presence in Ambalat, but saying it would keep guarding the area with its current six warships and three military aircraft.

“We’ll continue to guard the border and take measures that are in line with regulations and the President’s directives,” Tedjo said after a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post

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