JAKARTA: A border dispute between Indonesia and neighbouring
Malaysia in the Sulawesi Sea has not affected friendly relations
between the two countries, Indonesia's president said
Tuesday.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, currently touring islands near the
disputed area off the eastern coast of Borneo island, told
journalists that the two countries would weather the row which has
seen fighter jets and warships deployed.
"Bilateral ties have not undergone drastic changes. Do not picture
this relationship as in a bad state. It has not worsened in a
relatively brief time," he said.
"I think we are in a friendly, neighbourly situation and not in a
confrontative atmosphere, not in a condition of enmity against
Malaysia," Yudhoyono said.
A move by Malaysia last month to grant oil exploration rights in
the maritime area has prompted a military escalation in the area,
with both sides accusing each other's boats and airplanes of
territorial incursions.
Indonesia has seven warships and four F-16 fighter airplane
stations in the area. It has also beefed up military presence in
both East Kalimantan and North Sulawesi, the two provinces closest
to the disputed territory.
Anger has also risen among ordinary Indonesians, with many taking
to the streets to voice outrage.
On Tuesday, about 50 protestors gathered outside the Malaysian
embassy in Jakarta for a second day of noisy protests.
In at least two Indonesian cities, activists have opened
registration centres for volunteers willing to fight if armed
conflict breaks out.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda was due to meet his
Malaysian counterpart Syed Hamid Albar in Jakarta on Wednesday and
Thursday to discuss the border problem.
"We really hope that the negotiation and the diplomatic steps will
proceed well ... what is clear is that we will prioritise
negotiations," Yudhoyono said.
Indonesia and Malaysia previously disputed the ownership of two
small islands east of Sebatik. But in December 2002, the
International Court of Justice ruled that the islands -- Ligitan
and Sipadan -- belong to Malaysia. - AFP
