Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia Plan to Conduct Joint Patrol

Deputy for the Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Rear Admiral Agus R. Barnas — Deputy for Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Rear Admiral Agus R. Barnas

Jakarta, 12 Rajab 1437/19 April 2016 (MINA) – Military men from Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, will carry out a joint patrol at the countries’ sea borders as threat of piracy is escalating after the abductions of 14 Indonesians in the territory, China’s Xinhua news agency reported a senior security official as saying here Monday.

Deputy for The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of The Republic of Indonesia Agus R. Barnas said that the joint patrol will secure the sea waters which are also a busy shipping lane for international trade.

Each military officer will patrol in their own territories in the border areas of the three nations, but the patrol will be integrated, Barnas said.

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“We will cooperate on a joint patrol. This patrol is coordinated and aims to secure the border areas, and also the shipping lane,” he told Xinhua by phone.

One of the functions of lane, which passes through Indonesian territory, is for transporting coal from Indonesia to other countries, such as the Philippines, according to Barnas.

Indonesia is an archipelago country and is passed through by three international shipping lanes called ALKI.

“(The border) is passed by an international shipping lane from (China’s) Hong Kong to the south, and passes through Indonesian waters. The economic activity is frequent there, including the transport of coal,”he revealed.

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As many as 10 Indonesian workers in a ship transporting coals have been kidnapped in the border territory since last month by Abu Sayyaf terrorist group based in the Philippines.

Last week four other Indonesians were also abducted by gunmen, while six others including one who was shot escaped the incident, according to Indonesian foreign ministry.

The spokesman of the security ministry said that an investigation is being conducted by the ministry to find out whether the abductors are the Abu Sayyaf group, or its splinter group.

Attempt to free all the Indonesians abducted is being undertaken by the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines. (T/R07/R01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)