Jakarta - The Malacca Strait has become increasingly secure since the launching of joint patrols by the three littoral countries, namely Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (Malsindo) in one of the world`s busiest sea lanes in July 2004, Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief General Djoko Santoso said.
"It is increasingly secure. There was almost no case of piracy in 2007," he said here on Tuesday in reply to ANTARA`s questions on the results of his meetings with the commanders of the Thai and Singapore armed forces last weekend.
Gen. Djoko Santoso said during his recent working visits to Singapore and Thailand, the defense forces of Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore had agreed to increase their cooperation.
"The cooperation covers education, exercises and exchange of officers. Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore also agreed to increase coordinated patrols in the Malacca Strait," Santoso said.
He said that with the cooperation among Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia in petrolling the Malacca strait, almost no criminal activity had happened in the world`s busiest waterway in 2007.
"We have succeeded in cutting the crime rate to almost zero in 2007 while in 2008, we are still waiting for a report about it," he said.
On the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Indonesia and Singapore, the Indonesian defense forces chief said it was a political matter.
"It is a political matter so we did not discuss it," he said.
It was reported earlier that the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) had for the first time joined a US Seventh Fleet-Thailand joint exercise from May 6 to 22, 2008.
TNI spokesman Colonel Ahmad Yani Basuki said last week the TNI had sent 80 personnel to the military exercise code-named `Cobra Gold`. They were involved in the command post exercise (CPX) and field training exercise (FTX), Ahmad Yani Basuki said.
The CPX kicked off last May 6 in Korat, Thailand and would last until May 22, 2008 while FTX was begun in Samesan and Utapao, Thailand, on May 9 and would run until May 20, 2008.
Source: www.antara.co.id (15 Mei 2008)
