Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines to Hold Joint Patrols
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ANTARA FOTO/Zabur Karuru
An Indomaphil Trilateral Maritime Patrol (TMP) unit conducts war exercises in the waters off Tarakan, North Kalimantan, Monday (19/6). The Indomaphil TMP, a maritime security patrol established under the trilateral cooperation of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, was launched to enhance maritime security, especially in the waters of shared borders.
TARAKAN, KOMPAS – In anticipation of the growing threat from the Islamic State (IS) group, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to strengthen their security cooperation.
The cooperation was marked by the inauguration of the Indomaphil trilateral maritime patrol on Monday (19/6), in Tarakan, North Kalimantan.
During the ceremony, which was held on the deck of the KRI Soeharso 990 warship, was attended by Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Sei Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Philippine Defense Minister Delfin N. Lorenzana, among others.
On the same occasion, the Indonesian Military (TNI) signed an agreement over the Maritime Command Center (MCC) with the armed forces of the Philippines and Malaysia.
The MCC is to be located in three locations, namely in Tarakan in Indonesia, Tawau in Malaysia and Bongao in the Philippines. The establishment of the MCC is, among other reasons, intended for sharing information and intelligence and for monitoring activities in the Sulu Sea.
Ryamizard said the joint maritime patrol provides a strong message to IS-inspired terrorist groups operating in the region that Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines would not give them any space. In fact, according to him, the three countries are aiming to destroy IS and its cells in the region.
"We agree to make IS a common enemy, an enemy of humanity," Ryamizard said.
Sleeper cells
In a discussion held by Kompas on Monday in Jakarta, the director of the Institute of Policy and Conflict (IPAC), Sidney Jones, said that one thing to watch out for would be the resurrection of sleeper cells in Indonesia.
She said Malaysian police reportedly arrested a number of young people from Sumatra when they were on their way to Zamboanga, the Philippines.
In fact, so far, when compared with Java, there has been little mobilization of combatants from Sumatra. The arrest showed the awakening of sleeper cells has been extended into new territory and that should be closely watched.
The IS group has been reported to have been active in three Southeast Asian countries, namely Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia, where they have an estimated 60 cells: 29 of which are in Indonesia, with 22 in the Philippines. Meanwhile, 19 other cells have begun to show activity in Malaysia.
The ultimate goal of the IS group is apparently to establish a caliphate to be headed by Isnilon Totoni Hapilon aka Abu Abdullah al-Filipini. Hapilon is one of the IS cell leaders from the Abu Sayyaf network in the Basilan region of the Philippines.
Through the trilateral maritime patrols, the three countries seek to prevent the movement of about 1,267 IS cell members, especially combatants currently fighting in Marawi.
The actions of IS-inspired militant groups have now begun to require regional vigilance. A prolonged crisis started in Marawi after the Maute group and the armed group led by Hapilon occupied a part of the city.
They called for support from IS and declared the establishment of a caliphate in Southeast Asia. The border areas of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines were being used to infiltrate combatants into Marawi from a number of countries, including Indonesia.
The fourth week
Currently, the battle in Marawi has entered its fourth week. The Philippine military said more than 350 people have been killed, including 26 civilians, 62 soldiers and 257 members of extremist groups. Until now the Philippine army has not been able to eliminate the main power of the armed group in Marawi.
With adequate logistical support for the fighting, including weapons, funds and combatants from Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries, the Maute group can continue to resist the Philippine troops. They are expected to be able to fight for a long time.
In fact, the group is said to have adequate supplies and sophisticated equipment capable of monitoring the movement of Philippine troops. The assumption is supported by the discovery of drugs worth US$2 million to $5 million and four assault rifles by Philippine soldiers in a house that had been used by Maute as a defense post.
The drugs were packed in 11 bags. This finding raises the suspicion that the radical groups in the Philippines have been financed by narcotics trafficking.
