Military Service Recruitment:

Government Asked to Send Protest to Malaysia
Friday, 15 February, 2008 | 16:03 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Several House of Representative (DPR) members asked the government to send a note of protest to Malaysia, which calls attention to recruiting Indonesian citizens into the military in Malaysia. In addition, the government is asked to withdraw the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia. “We will suggest that the DPR Foreign Affairs Commission send a letter to the government soon,” said the DPR’s National Awakening faction member, Effendy Choirie, yesterday (14/2).

Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, a member of the Democracy Pioneer Star faction, asked the government to evaluate diplomatic relations with Malaysia. Ali pointed that Malaysia has carried out a systemic act to annex Indonesia.

According to the DPR Chairman, Agung Laksono, the recruitment violates the defense system. “The government must observe the situation and give a note of protest through a diplomatic line, and (the recruitment) must be stopped,” he said.

Military Command VI Tanjungpura, Kalimantan, Commander Maj. Gen. Tono Suratman acknowledged carrying out the recruitment for “Askar Wathaniaah” along the border in Kalimantan. According to Tono, those who were recruited were mostly Indonesian workers in Malaysia who have permanent residence status and have already changed citizenship. “That's our intelligence report,” he said. “The recruitment process is still normal.”

The Foreign Affairs Department said that so far it is still verifying the militant recruitment. “We've contacted Indonesia's Embassy in Malaysia and the representatives in Kinabalu and Kuching cities in order to look for the facts,” said Foreign Affairs Department's spokesperson, Kristiarto Legowo.

From the information received from Indonesia's representative in Malaysia, he said, Malaysia has already denied the news. According to the Malaysian government, said Kristiarto, to become a paramilitary member or “Askar Wathaniaah,” there are requirements to fulfill. “They must be Malaysian citizens,” he said.

Kristiarto acknowledged some Indonesian citizens work in several companies in the border area between Malaysia and Indonesia as security personnel. “They were given uniforms and special training,” he said.

FAJAR | EKO AW | MAHBUB | DINI M | SG WIBISONO | RADEN | FIRMAN CHIQO