News
Jusuf Kalla: Indonesia must be firm in border talks with Malaysia
Ahad, 5 September 2010 | 12:59 WIB
Jakarta, NU Online
Former vice president Jusuf Kalla called on the Indonesian government to take a firm stand in its border talks with Malaysia at an Indonesian Red Cross meeting on Sunday.
"The problem is very technical so it will take a long time. But we must be firm in defending our territory based on international law," he said on the sidelines of an Indonesian Red Cross meeting at the National Monument.r />
The two nations are scheduled to hold talks in Kinabalu, capital of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, on September 6 to discuss their borders.
The border talks will cover land and maritime borders, including sea borders in the Singapore strait and the Ambalat waters.
"Our team of negotiators must be competent and able to show compelling evidence," Jusuf said.
Ties between the two nations turned sour over the past few weeks following the recent arrest by Malaysian police of three Indonesian fisheries officers.
The fisheries officers were arrested and later taken to Malaysia by a Malaysian police boat crew who had intercepted their boat on their way to Batam Island while escorting a Malaysian fishing boat that had been caught poaching in Indonesian waters.
They were later set free by the Malaysian authorities in exchange for the release of seven Malaysian fishermen who had been caught poaching in Indonesian waters near Bintan island. (ant/dar)
Former vice president Jusuf Kalla called on the Indonesian government to take a firm stand in its border talks with Malaysia at an Indonesian Red Cross meeting on Sunday.
"The problem is very technical so it will take a long time. But we must be firm in defending our territory based on international law," he said on the sidelines of an Indonesian Red Cross meeting at the National Monument.
The two nations are scheduled to hold talks in Kinabalu, capital of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, on September 6 to discuss their borders.
The border talks will cover land and maritime borders, including sea borders in the Singapore strait and the Ambalat waters.
"Our team of negotiators must be competent and able to show compelling evidence," Jusuf said.
Ties between the two nations turned sour over the past few weeks following the recent arrest by Malaysian police of three Indonesian fisheries officers.
The fisheries officers were arrested and later taken to Malaysia by a Malaysian police boat crew who had intercepted their boat on their way to Batam Island while escorting a Malaysian fishing boat that had been caught poaching in Indonesian waters.
They were later set free by the Malaysian authorities in exchange for the release of seven Malaysian fishermen who had been caught poaching in Indonesian waters near Bintan island. (ant/dar)
