Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Indonesian authorities are on high alert, concerned by the escalation of violence in the Malaysian province of Sabah, in the northern part of the island of Borneo. Jakarta has stepped up security levels and strengthened border controls in the area of East Borneo. Since 4 February at least 200 Filipino militants belonging to the "Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu" are holed up in the town of Sabah and fighting against the military sent from Kuala Lumpur.
Mediation
efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Philippine President Aquino
Benin have proved pointless, who in recent weeks have repeatedly urged the
Islamist rebels led by Jamalul Kiram, "the Sultan of Sulu," to
abandon their weapons. Yesterday
the Malaysian army launched
a heavy air raid, ahead of a ground offensive, in contrast, the militia
announced that they are ready to do battle "to the death".
The
authorities in Jakarta have focused attention on Nunukan regency in the
province of East Borneo, an important commercial and tourist hub between
Indonesia and Malaysia. At
the same time the area is a recruitment center and hub for Filipino Muslim
extremist groups who illegally enter Indonesian territory to trade in weapons
or other objects through illegal "channels".
East Borneo police chief Gen. Anas
Yusuf, stresses that it is in place, "a coordinated operation between the
parties" is in place to "minimize" any notion of "danger
along the border" as much as possible. In particular, attention is being focused
on the islands of Sebatik and Seimenggaris, a strategic center used by
Islamists in Mindanao to provide aid and logistics to Filipino militants in
Sabah.
Meanwhile,
the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that hundreds of workers in
oil palm plantations in Sabah were evacuated for fear that they could be caught
up in the ongoing conflict.