"We do not want the Sunda Strait to become a pirates` operation zone like the Malacca Strait. Therefore, we always patrol the Sunda Strait waters," Eko said.Merak, Banten (ANTARA News) - The Sunda Strait, a waterway separating Java island from Sumatra island, is prone to piracy, police said.
Therefore, the Banten police would also pay attention to the security of vessels passing through or crossing the strait from Java to Sumatra or vice versa, Banten Regional Police Chief Brig Gen Eko Haid S said here Monday.
The main sea transportation means between Java and Sumatra islands across the strait is a regular ferry service between Merak in Banten on Java island and Bakauheni in Sumatra`s Lampung province.
"We do not want the Sunda Strait to become a pirates` operation zone like the Malacca Strait. Therefore, we always patrol the Sunda Strait waters," Eko said.
He said that as a sea transportation lane, the Sunda Strait was vulnerable to piracy because it bordered on forested coasts in Java and Sumatra.
"Both the Malacca Strait and the Sunda Strait border on forested coasts," he said.
Besides piracy, the Sunda Strait was also prone to illegal fishing.
Adjunct Senior Commissioner RM Tohir Hendarsa, acting director of Banten province`s air and water police, said meanwhile that the Sunda Strait was also vulnerable to illegal fishing by foreign boats.
"It is also often used by illegal immigrants," he added.
He said the strait was very to vulnerable to illegal immigrants from the East Asian region. They use the Sunda Strait to depart to Christmas Island in Australia.
He said this year Banten police had intercepted a number of boats carrying immigrants from Sri Lanka, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria in the Sunda Strait.
"The illegal immigrants often start their journey to Christmas Island from a number of villages facing the Sunda Strait as Tinjil, Deli, Panaitan and Peucang," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
