[Kabar-indonesia] RI yet to agree on ReCAAP

[Joyo at aol.com]

Indonesia yet to agree on ReCAAP

Jakarta (Antara, Sept. 2, 2006) - Indonesia has yet to agree to the Regional 
Cooperation Agreement On Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in 
Asia (ReCAAP), because it is believed not in line with the sovereignty of the 
three neighboring countries securing the Malacca Strait.

If RECAAP is aimed at securing the sea in Asia from armed piracy, why 
building an information centre under the ReCAAP in Singapore, which is one of the 
three fully sovereign countries securing its territorial waters in the waterway, 
Defence Ministry`s defence strategy director general Maj Gen Dadi Susanti told 
the press here.

"Therefore we have yet to agree on the ReCAAP as long as it is aimed at 
controlling security in the Malacca Straight by the three countries," said Dadi on 
the sidelines of the 5th round meeting of the Defence Cooperation Agreement 
(DCA) between Indonesia and Singapore.

ReCAAP is a regional cooperation to combat piracy in Asia, initiated by 
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in October 2001. After formulating for 
three years it was introduced to 16 countries, namely ASEAN+ 6 (Japan, Kotrea, 
India, Sri Lanka, China and Bangladesh, ReCAAP was finalize in Tokyo in 
November 2004.

On April 20, 2006 eleven countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Korea, 
Laos, Myanmar, Philipines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, signed the 
agreement. Indonesia and Malaysia still refused to sign it as they believed it 
is still not in line with the sovereignty of three neighboring countries 
securing the Malassa Strait Selat Malaka, although ReCAAP and the information 
centre are scheduled to go into service on September 24, 2006.

------------------------------------------ 
Joyo Indonesia News Service
------------------------------------------