KSAL Yudo Responds To Allegations Of Indonesian Navy Soldiers Picking Up Foreign Vessels Parked Illegally In Territorial Waters

Illustration PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, Admiral Yudo Margono, emphasized that in the name of the 1982 UNCLOS regulations and regulations, the Navy must expel foreign ships that operate illegally and harm the national interest.

These foreign ships include illegally parking or anchoring in Indonesian territorial waters.

This was stated by Kasal Yudi Margono, Monday, November 15, commenting on accusations by several foreign mass media about the actions of people who are said to be Indonesian Navy personnel, acting unilaterally in Indonesian waters on the border with the Singapore Strait.

Several foreign mass media stated that the men were said to have quoted a sum of money in foreign currency to release ships that had illegally anchored in the waters of Batam Island, Riau Archipelago.

Indonesia has a narrow maritime border with Singapore, but the flow of international ship traffic is very heavy, namely in the Malacca Strait, Singapore Strait and Phillip Strait.

From the Indonesian side, there are Nipa Island in the Riau Archipelago Province as the outermost island at the end of the Malacca-Phillip Strait, Karang Holong and Batu Berantai Island in the Phillip Strait, and Putri Island in the Singapore Strait.

Yudo Margono stated that the issue of the Singapore Strait is an issue that is often raised like that.

"And this (law enforcement step) is a form (enforcement) of state sovereignty and rule of law in our territorial waters. Every time we enforce the law strictly, we always issue negative issues from abroad," said Admiral Yudo, quoted from Antara. .

"If it's in the EEZ or outside the territorial area, maybe we still understand. But because this is in territorial waters (Indonesia). According to the Shipping Law, this must be expelled. UNCLOS 1982 also (stated) so, must be subject to expulsion. They did it not because of force majeure, but more because they deliberately carried out (illegal) activities in Indonesian territorial waters," he said.

He stated that it was clear that foreign ships were using Indonesian waters to park, when in fact they were queuing up to enter a port in Singapore that was not in Indonesian waters.

"We have expelled those who carried out illegal activities many times, and were prosecuted according to the applicable legal provisions," he said again.

“Perhaps, yes, with them we expelled them, they are confused about where to park and where else to anchor, because the waters that allow for that are in our waters. So we carry out evictions and enforce the law," he said guessing.

Specifically regarding the accusation, he stated, “If there are such accusations and issues, please prove it, who (the person) was given? Don't just raise unclear issues. Of course, if it's a Navy officer, it's clear what his rank is, what's his name, and where does he serve. If this kind of thing just throws an issue, it's hard to prove it."

On the other hand, inside the Indonesian Navy, he said, the information was used as material for internal evaluation and consolidation.

“What is clear is that we are also evaluating and consolidating, not only do we believe it, but we also evaluate and check the truth. However, it is the duty of the Indonesian Navy to uphold state sovereignty and law," he continued.

"If there are issues like that, yes, please (raise). But we will not stop at that, moreover, this is very detrimental to the Indonesian state. They use foreign ports but park at our place, in the territorial area again," he said.