Countries to join maritime security exercise in Indonesia

Seventeen countries are to take part in maritime joint exercise in Yogyakarta of Indonesia from March 30 to April 1, Indonesian officer said here on Wednesday.

The drill, dubbed "the 6th Maritime Security Deskop Exercise or MSDE" aims at strengthening coordination among the participating countries in combating crimes at sea at the region, said Edi Fernandi, head of Indonesian maritime security board.

"Many countries have put the prevention on the violation at sea as priority after experiencing many of such violations which has occurred at the global sea territory," he said at his office.

Among the countries planning to take part in the event are Indonesia, China, Australia, Japan, the Philippine and Timor Leste, Edi revealed.

The drill is held under the coordination of the government of Indonesia and Australia, he added. The officer said that the coordination among the countries would be targeted to secure the sea resources in Asian waters and Australian waters.

Indonesian Security Chief Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno is scheduled to open the event, according to Edi.

Discussion on maritime issues would also be done at the sidelines of the event, he said.

Indonesia is a vast archipelago country home to 17,500 islands.

Among the main threats being faced by the country are illegal fishing, smuggling of weapons for separatist and terrorism purposes, and drug and human trafficking.

Indonesia has drowned dozens of foreign ships for illegally entering the country's territory and stealing fish and other sea resources. Endi