An editorial in the Jakarta Post lambasts the Indonesian government over its obstinate policies for protecting the Malacca Strait.

While we fully support the sovereignty of the three countries [Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore], we also want to remind them that all stakeholders in the strait have the right to play a role in ensuring the safety of this vital waterway. Major Asian economic powers like Japan and China want more of a role in patrolling the waters, because they depend on the strait for the transportation of commodities like oil and gas. ... Indonesia can not simply claim sovereignty and reject any foreign presence in the strait, especially when it remains the main base for pirates there and has so far failed to ensure safe passage through its waters.

Via EagleSpeak who also reports on the Indian navy’s attempts to jointly protect it’s sea-lanes.

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