Singapore to seek clarification with Jakarta on sand policy

The Sunday Times, March 4, 2007


THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will ask the Indonesian embassy in Singapore to 'urgently clarify' the official Indonesian government policy on sand and bilateral issues.

A MFA spokesman said on Sunday the Jakarta Post reported on March 3 2007, quoting the Maritime and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi as saying, 'Politically, we banned the export of sand because we wanted it to have a larger economic value and we also want to settle our border disputes with Singapore.'

He said in a release that 'Minister Freddy Numberi's comments are puzzling and disappointing'.

'They clearly contradict categorical assurances we had received in public as well as in private from Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda that there was no linkage between the ban on the export of land sand and bilateral issues.'

He said, 'Uncertainty over who speaks for Indonesia is not helpful.'

He added that 'the MFA will therefore ask the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore to urgently clarify whether Minister Numberi's comments represent the official policy of the Indonesian Government'.