Indonesia, neighbours agree to launch joint sea patrols to thwart kidnappings

YOGYAKARTA (Indonesia) — Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are to launch joint patrols in their waters after a recent surge of kidnappings by a radical Islamic group, according to an agreement struck yesterday.

The decision to patrol the Sulu and Celebes seas, which together form a key waterway between the three countries, comes just over a week after the southern Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Canadian captive.

Abu Sayyaf gangs have earned many millions of dollars from kidnapping foreigners and locals in the region since the early 1990s.

“We will undertake coordinated patrols in the maritime areas of our common concern,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi after half-day talks among Foreign Ministers and armed forces commanders of the three countries in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta.

The three had signed an agreement in 2002 to strengthen border security in response to increasing cross-border attacks by Abu Sayyaf militants, but they have yet to mount coordinated naval patrols, which involve voyages by the different navies operating in their own territorial waters.

Indonesia last month called for joint maritime patrols, but the Philippines said it wanted separate but coordinated patrols to identify safe corridors where ships can travel.

Indonesia is the world’s largest thermal coal exporter and supplies 70 per cent of the Philippines’ coal imports.

Besides joint patrols, the top government officials agreed to set up a “hotline of communication” in order “to better facilitate coordination”, as well as “a national focal point to facilitate timely sharing of information and intelligence” during emergency situations and security threats.

According to a joint declaration issued at the end of the meeting initiated by Indonesia, the three countries also agreed to render immediate assistance to people and ships in distress in maritime areas of common concern.

The Sulu and Celebes seas are used for the passage of 55 million tonnes of goods and more than 18 million people a year.

“To follow up the meeting, the three countries will sit down again to design the standard operating procedure,” said Ms Marsudi.

She stressed that piracy and kidnappings, as well as other transnational crimes, can undermine the public’s confidence in trade and commerce in the region.

Ten Indonesians were taken hostage in late March, presumably by Abu Sayyaf, after their boats were hijacked off the southern Philippine island province of Tawi-Tawi. The 10 hostages were released and taken into the custody of Philippine authorities on Sunday.

In mid-April, another group of Indonesians aboard another pair of cargo vessels was similarly attacked by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in waters off Tawi-Tawi. Four were taken hostage and are believed to remain in the hands of their captors.

Abu Sayyaf claims to promote an independent Islamic state comprising part of Mindanao Island and the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, and besides kidnappings for ransom, has engaged in bombings, assassinations and extortion.

Although its membership is thought to have dwindled to fewer than 400 in recent years, the group has withstood repeated United States-backed military offensives against it, using the mountainous jungle terrain of Jolo and nearby islands to its advantage.

In addition to the four Indonesian sailors, authorities say the Abu Sayyaf group is still holding at least another seven foreign hostages — four sailors from Malaysia, a Canadian tourist, a Norwegian resort owner and a Dutch birdwatcher. AGENCIES