Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Strengthen Border Security

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have agreed to strengthen maritime borders to anticipate the threats of piracy, abduction and terrorism. "We will commence a trilateral coordinated maritime patrols," Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said yesterday.

The cooperation is marked with the inauguration of a joint patrol by defense ministers of the three countries on board Indonesian warship KRI Dr Suharso 990 in Tarakan, North Kalimantan. Aside from Ryamizard, the inauguration was attended by Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and the Philippines Defense Minister Delvin N. Lorenzana. Also present were observers: Singapore’s Senior Minister Maliki bin Osman and Brunei Darussalam’s Deputy Defense Minister Dato Seri Abdul Aziz.

Going forward, Ryamizard said, it is possible to involve the Air Forces and the Army to face security threats of cross-border crimes. According to him, the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines see the cooperation as key without forgetting the roles of the Souteast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Abductions and terrorism have become serious problems in the maritime borders between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, particularly those in north Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Recently, Indonesian and Malaysian ships and crew members fell victim to piracy. The perpetrators took them to south Philippine and asked for ransom from the Indonesian government.

The Philippine government is currently fighting the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf in Marawi city, that support the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Many fear that the war in the Philippines would affect Indonesia and Malaysia. The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) said it has detected movements of prospective ISIS fighters from Indonesia to the Philippines through Indonesia’s northern borders.

Indonesian Military [TNI] commander General Gatot Nurmantyo said that the three countries need to exchange information to tackle terrorism. "Including on data of possible fugitives disguising as refugees from Marawi," he said yesterday.

HUSSEIN ABRI DONGORAN | YOHANES PASKALIS