Jakarta fears Middle East-like conflict may occur in Asean

04 Nov 2015 / 02:17 H.
    Jakarta fears Middle East-like conflict may occur in Asean
    This handout photo taken on March 17, 2015 by satellite imagery provider DigitalGlobe and released to AFP by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative department at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSSI) think tank shows a satellite image of Chinese vessels purportedly dredging sand at Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. AFP / CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

KUALA LUMPUR: Jakarta has expressed fears that a conflict such as in the Middle East will occur in Asean, if the stability and security of this region is not safeguarded.
Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said Asean member countries should be committed to continue dialogues to keep the peace in this region.
"The conflict in the Middle East has forced its people to leave for other countries. This should not happen in Asean.
"Conflict will only lead to illness and death when boats full of refugees sink in the sea," he told reporters at the retreat of the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) in Subang today.
The minister said each Asean country should promote the principles of welfare of the people and peace to give confidence to the ruling governments.
The government's function was to assure the people of their safety so that they would not migrate to other countries, he added.
Ryamizard said continuing dialogues would help to preserve the peace in Asean as all the problems could be resolved quickly.
On Washington's use of 'Freedom of Navigation' to send its warship to the South China Sea, he said they could go anywhere except to conflict areas.
The presence of the United States warship in the South China Sea drew criticism from China as it is near the disputed Spratly Islands.
The Spratly Islands are the subject of overlapping claims by China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. — Bernama

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