Indonesia denies border row has turned Malaysia into an enem
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JAKARTA: A border dispute between Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia in the Sulawesi Sea has not affected friendly relations between the two countries, Indonesia's president said Tuesday.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, currently touring islands near the disputed area off the eastern coast of Borneo island, told journalists that the two countries would weather the row which has seen fighter jets and warships deployed.
"Bilateral ties have not undergone drastic changes. Do not picture this relationship as in a bad state. It has not worsened in a relatively brief time," he said.
"I think we are in a friendly, neighbourly situation and not in a confrontative atmosphere, not in a condition of enmity against Malaysia," Yudhoyono said.
A move by Malaysia last month to grant oil exploration rights in the maritime area has prompted a military escalation in the area, with both sides accusing each other's boats and airplanes of territorial incursions.
Indonesia has seven warships and four F-16 fighter airplane stations in the area. It has also beefed up military presence in both East Kalimantan and North Sulawesi, the two provinces closest to the disputed territory.
Anger has also risen among ordinary Indonesians, with many taking to the streets to voice outrage.
On Tuesday, about 50 protestors gathered outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta for a second day of noisy protests.
In at least two Indonesian cities, activists have opened registration centres for volunteers willing to fight if armed conflict breaks out.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda was due to meet his Malaysian counterpart Syed Hamid Albar in Jakarta on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the border problem.
"We really hope that the negotiation and the diplomatic steps will proceed well ... what is clear is that we will prioritise negotiations," Yudhoyono said.
Indonesia and Malaysia previously disputed the ownership of two small islands east of Sebatik. But in December 2002, the International Court of Justice ruled that the islands -- Ligitan and Sipadan -- belong to Malaysia. - AFP -
Wonders what will happen next...
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Indonesian hackers wrote graffiti on a few Malaysian websites. Sg1960 at "Military Nuts" has the story.