Shoot ships smuggling sand to Singapore, says ex-president

The Straits Times, March 27, 2007
by AZHAR GHANI

JAKARTA - FORMER Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid has added his voice to the sand ban issue, calling for vessels smuggling sand to Singapore to be shot.

Urging Indonesia's security forces to take a tough stand, he was quoted by the Batam Pos last Thursday as saying: 'Just shoot them. Especially if they are Singapore vessels.'

Mr Abdurrahman, who was president from October 1999 to July 2001, was in Batam to attend a function of his National Awakening Party.

During his term, he had made some anti-Singapore remarks, including accusing the Republic of not caring about its neighbours.

In the Batam Pos report, Mr Abdurrahman also called for Indonesia to ban granite exports to Singapore, echoing similar calls by politicians and senior navy men.

He also alleged that Singapore's reclamation works could impact on Indonesia's borders with the Republic - a charge already refuted by Indonesian officials such as Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda and military chief Djoko Suyanto.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also asserted recently: 'Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo has made clear Singapore's position when he spoke in Parliament on Feb 12, 2007. Our land reclamation works are conducted within Singapore's territorial waters. We have always stated that they would not be a factor in ongoing maritime boundary negotiations with Indonesia.'

Mr Abdurrahman also told the paper that banning granite exports would increase Singapore's respect for Indonesia.

'We have been looked down upon because we had never had the guts to do anything for our national dignity. It is time for us to preserve our national pride,' he said.