Sunariah, Jakarta – Former army chief of staff, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, has warned that there is a potential threat that could undermine the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) being posed by a number of neighbouring countries such as Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.

During a seminar at the Jakarta Media Centre titled “Discovering the Values of the Youth Pledge to Uphold the Sovereignty of NKRI” on Saturday September 10, Ryacudu said that Australia is continuing to develop its forces directed towards the north. “In their [defense] white book Indonesia is [seen as] the threat” he said. He recollected the experience of East Timor where Australia was most influential in the separation of the province from Indonesia.

This threat can also be seen from Australia’s pre-emptive policy that uses the concept of the Australian Maritime Identification Zone (AMIZ). It can also be seen in the case of West Papua where Australia is actively responding to indications [of the desire] for a referendum in Papua.

In the case of Singapore meanwhile, national boundaries are still unclear and Singapore can just extend its territory into Indonesia. This is linked to Singapore’s interests in the waters of the Malacca Straits. The other threat is that Singapore is often used for money laundering by shadowy Indonesian conglomerates.

In the case of Malaysia, Indonesia has had a number of unhappy experiences. For example, the loss of the Sipadan-Ligitan islands and now the threat of loosing the Ambalat Block. In addition to Malaysia’s interests in the Malacca Straits, they have also become a place of refuge and sanctuary for the Free Aceh Movement.

It is because of this Ryacudu warned that Indonesia must further prioritise its national interests over friendship. “With Malaysia or Singapore we are friendly, but international interests are still the principle issue”, he said. If a country is attacked and destroyed the one who can defend it is the country itself.

[Translated by James Balowski.]