Sarwono Kusumaatmadja News

Dangerous Seas Ahead If Indonesia Breaks Up

Pirates and marauders will rule what are now Indonesia's territorial waters if the country disintegrates, increasing security risks to the whole region, Jakarta's minister for maritime exploration said. Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said if Indonesia fell apart, there would be no effective regime to police the waters - which include some of the world's busiest and most strategic sea lanes. His warning comes as Indonesia faces growing calls for independence from several provinces, in particular restive Aceh at the northern tip of the Sumatra Island, the gateway to the strategic Straits of Malacca. Analysts worry if Aceh breaks away, it will trigger the disintegration of the country. "If this country breaks up, these archipelagic seas would become internationalized.