|
INDONESIA
AND AUSTRALIA AGREE ON INFORMATION EXCHANGE TO MAINTAIN SECURITY
Canberra
- Indonesia and Australia reached an agreement on information
exchange to secure their borders against criminal security
disturbances such as poaching and drug trafficking.
"Actually
Australia wishes to conduct a joint operation with us, but the
agreement that we have reached is on information exchange between
the Sea Security Coordination Body (Bakorkamla) and the Border
Protection Command (BPC)," said Bakorkamla's chief executive Joko
Sumaryono from Canberra on Thursday (24/05).
Joko was
in Sydney for a short visit to Australia. He said the information
exchange agreement was reached at a meeting with the BPC and
Northern Command officials in Canberra and in Darwin two days ago.
"The
agreement will go into effect in the near future and among the
problems of common concern include illegal logging, illegal fishing
and drug trafficking," he said.
He said
in his meeting with the Border Protection Command officials he had
exchanged views on border control management. According to the First
Secretary of the Indonesian Consulate in Darwin, Buchari Hasnil
Bakar, Joko had not only met with Northern Command officials but
also visited dozens of traditional Indonesian fishermen currently
being held in Darwin.
"During
his visit to Darwin on Wednesday (24/05), Joko Sumaryono also
visited the detention center to meet the Indonesian traditional
fishermen from Flores, and observed the facilities there," he said.
The
Indonesian Ambassador to Australia and Vanuatu, TM Hamzah Thayeb,
said that the 49 fishermen held since May 16 had been engaged in
fishing operations with six traditional sailboats when they were
intercepted and seized by Australian security patrol for violating
Pulau Pasir National Park management laws. They had collected sea
cucumbers which is one protected commodity in the area.
He said
that the Indonesian consulate in Darwin had met with the skippers of
the boats to give them guidance and collect information from them
about their arrest (Antara, 25/05/07).
--- |
