TIM eMagazine Volume 2 Issue 5 | Page 17

TIM eMagazine Vol . 2 Issue 5

commercial vessels last year . This culminated in the joint declaration in May 2016 in Yogyakarta , aimed to boost security efforts in the Sulu Sea and surrounding areas . Yet after the attacks on Marawi City , this could have triggered the need for more effective measures to strengthen those patrols .

The kick off rites took place in the Indonesian city of Tarakan in North Kalimantan . Attending the rites were Indonesian military chief General Gatot Nurmaynto , as well as Indonesian , Malaysian and Philippine Defence Ministers Ryamizard Ryacudu , Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Delfin Lorenzana , respectively .

A joint statement by the three participating governments said that the maritime patrols , including air and surface elements , are meant to boost security ‘ in the face of non-traditional real threats such as piracy , kidnapping , terrorism and other transnational crimes in regional waters .’ General Gatot said during a speech at the launch on Monday that the three centres are part of a wider security plan discussed by armed forces chiefs from the three countries during a previous meeting in Yogyakarta . He added that " The military command centres in Tarakan , Tawau and Bongao will be the centres for sharing information and intelligence that serves as an important factor in supporting the trilateral maritime patrols ."

" I hope that this joint patrol will be the historic beginning to increasing the quality and extent of defence cooperation to preserve stability and security in the region ," stressed Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu .

His Malaysian counterpart pointed out that the aim of this latest security initiative is to prevent South-east Asia from becoming a conflict zone where foreign fighters freely enter to join groups such as ISIS .

" What we want to avoid is a development of perceptions that there are certain areas in our region that are seen as Aleppo , Raqqa ( in Syria ), meaning these areas would become magnets , to which foreign fighters would be attracted to come ," Mr . Hishammudim stressed .

The Malaysian Defence Minister said that among those killed in Marawi thus far , aside from Indonesians and Malaysians , are also militants from Morocco , Saudi Arabia . " If we don ' t address this properly , believe me , the others from Europe , New Zealand , and Australia would also come ," he warned , furthering that " we want to convey a very clear message that if they want to set foot here , they don ' t only face one country , but at least three countries that have agreed to fight as hard as they can ."

“ The coordinated patrols aim to tighten protection along porous borders and prevent abductions at high seas ,” pointed out Philippine military spokesman Brig . Gen . Restituto Padilla , adding how these will also help prevent the movement of fugitives seeking haven in a different country or planning to provide assistance to jihadists . Padilla also emphasized that immigration procedures should also be strengthened since they are the first line of defense in blocking militants who come in through the countries ' airports .

" The enemy we face right now is a different breed , and with the presence of foreign fighters in the area — a matter that we are trying to validate and prove based on whatever we recover from the field — is part of that continuing concern ," Padilla equally warned . He was referring to the reported presence in Marawi of foreign fighters , who he said bring a kind of terrorism seen in the Middle East but not practiced by local militants .

The increasing rise of terrorist groups triggered by the recent attack by Muslim militant group ISIS in Marawi City has been a real cause for alarm , not only within Mindanao but in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia as well . And if one considers Marawi ’ s proximity to Sabah and Indonesia , there is very good reason to take drastic action

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