Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono says the Indonesian and Malaysian governments are still committed to diplomacy to resolve their territorial dispute over the Ambalat maritime area off East Kalimantan. "We are still in talks with the Malaysian authorities through our Foreign Ministry regarding differences we have on the maritime borders," he said Monday after a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission I on defense and foreign affairs. "It's very important for both sides to stop provoking one another. I also want the people and the press to stay calm; let's not escalate anything." The Ambalat maritime area has been claimed by both Indonesia and Malaysia as part of their respective territories. The dispute over the maritime block, believed to be rich in oil and gas, has been a source of tension between Indonesia and Malaysia since the 1980s. Both governments have met several times to try to negotiate a peaceful solution to the issue, and have declared the block as status quo until agreement could be reached. Recently, Indonesia accused Malaysian battleships of entering Indonesian territorial waters surrounding Ambalat. According to the Indonesian Military (TNI), this was Malaysia's ninth such incursion into the area this year. However, Malaysian authorities countered back by accusing Indonesia of breaching its borders 13 times. House Commission I member Yusron Ihza Mahendra said the House's patience in dealing with Malaysia's "continued provocation" in Ambalat was beginning to run out. Yusron added Indonesia must no longer use the "context of discussions" when it came to declaring its stance on the Ambalat issue with the Malaysian authorities. "The word *discussion' means we agree to bargain with Malaysia on maritime borders and limits," he said. "In my view, we no longer need any discussion because we have a solid legal basis for our claim to Ambalat. What we need to do is to show Malaysia we have a firm stance on Ambalat. "For a start, we can recall our ambassador in Malaysia to show a firm political stance. We can also give official warnings to Malaysia, and if all measures fail, then we'll have no choice but to *declare war*," he added. Yusron said five Commission 1 members would go to Malaysia to meet with its defense minister and parliament speaker. "We want to tell them to stop the provocations," he said. "It will only make own people more restless." TNI chief Gen. Djoko Santoso said the army would stick by orders from the civilian authorities. "So far, the government has maintained its stance of using diplomacy *to resolve the issue*, and we will respect that," he said.
Author: hdt, The Jakarta Post Indonesia Today
Author: hdt, The Jakarta Post Indonesia Today
