Indonesian Navy Hunts Poachers in Malacca Strait

Indonesian Navy Hunts Poachers in Malacca Strait

BATAM, Kompas – Indonesian Navy hunted poachers in Malacca Strait. Six people were detained in the hunting around Riau Islands.

Indonesian Western Fleet Command Chief, Rear Admiral Widodo, on Saturday night (12/27) in Batam, Riau Islands, said six people were detained in Terung Island, Batam. They have been detained separately since Thursday (12/25). “Quick-response team detained them in their hideout in Terung Island,” he said.

Their arrestment was triggered by poaching attempt report in Malacca Strait. The report was received by some maritime organization representatives in Malaysia and Singapore forwarded to Indonesian Navy.

The report comes from the crew of MV Madeira on Sunday (12/21). The crew of Malta-flagged vessel reported four unknown people attempting to poach them. The incident occurred 5.5 kilometers from Karimun Kecil Island. The poachers have got on board but they did not enter the cabins which have been locked.

Besides MV Madeira, several poaching attempt reports also came. All attempts failed and it did not inflict material loss to vessel crews and owner. “They failed to take everything from the target vessels,” Widodo said.

However, Indonesian Navy did not underestimate their actions since the reports have been recorded by International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Information Fusion Center (IFC) in Singapore.

“If we do not do anything, Indonesia will be considered incapable to protect its waters from crime,” Widodo said.

Complaints

Indonesian Western Fleet Command (Armabar) Unit Commander, First Admiral Abdul Rasyid K, said Armabar has conducted several things to prove its seriousness to eradicate nautical crime. Indonesian Navy Controlling and Command Center has been placed in Batam. “The command center provides contactable hotline to report nautical crime,” he said.

The vessels in western Indonesian waters are expected to report the incidents they experience to the command center. The reports to IMB and IFC are forwarded to Indonesian Navy for further actions. “Report to us directly,” he said.

Indonesian Navy also formed Sea Eagle Task Unit. The main function of the task is to follow up nautical crime reports around Malacca Strait. “The water is often called as one of dangerous waters in the world. Many nautical crime reports come from this water,” he said.

Widodo asserted it is not appropriate if the nautical crime around Riau Island is called poaching and piracy. There are no actions involving firearms to dominate vessels and to take hostage of its crews.

“Crime exists in form of the theft of several goods on vessels, unlike what occurs around Somalia which taking hostage of vessel crews and asking for ransom,” he said. (Kompas)