Jakarta has not released detained vessels carrying granite

ST Forum, The Straits Times, March 26, 2007


THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Indonesia has not released the detained vessels carrying granite.

Responding to media queries on the matter, the MFA said in a statement on Monday, 'Indonesia has not released the detained vessels to date.'

' When Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo met Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda in Nuremburg on 15 March 2007, Minister Hassan told Minister Yeo that an inter-departmental team had visited the Riaus to investigate the Indonesian Navy's detention of the tugboats and barges carrying granite bound for Singapore.'

The MFA said Mr Hassan assured Mr Yeo that the Indonesian team's verification process would be transparent.

'As the vessels are still under Indonesian detention and we have not heard from the Indonesians since then, MFA has sent a Third Party Note (diplomatic note) to the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore on 26 March 2007 to seek an update on the results of the Indonesian team's investigation.'