SUSILO TO EXPLAIN MALAYSIA-INDONESIA BORDER INCIDENT

BY AHMAD FUAD YAHYA

JAKARTA, Sept 1 (Bernama) –- Indonesia's president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said
Tuesday he will give an explanation on the country's recent maritime border
incident with Malaysia off its island of Bintan, Wednesday.

Susilo told this to reporters after chairing a Cabinet meeting at Istana Negara
here.

“Through the explanation, I wish to defuse the existing tensions between our
countries. I urge the people to think rationally and not be too emotional about
this issue," he said.

However, he said Indonesia would not do anything that would compromise its
sovereignty.

On Aug 13, Indonesian maritime authorities arrested seven Malaysian
fishermen in disputed waters off Bintan island while three of their enforcement
officers were arrested by the Malaysian authorities in the same waters.

Subsequently all the affected parties were freed by both countries but vigilante
groups in Jakarta resorted to holding unruly demonstrations outside the
Malaysian embassy in the capital and threatened to "Ganyang Malaysia" (go to war
with Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA