Anambas/natuna

[hypermount]

THIRTY-two foreign divers arrested at gunpoint in Indonesian waters north-east of Singapore were under naval custody tonight (AEST), an admiral said.

"They were diving without permission," The head of the Indonesian navy base in Tanjung Pinang in the Riau islands, First Admiral Malik Yusuf, said.

He said the group, including 21 Singaporeans, two Americans, two New Zealanders, a German, two French nationals and two Malaysians were detained Saturday in the Anambas island group east of Malaysia.

"They were arrested by a warship," Admiral Yusuf said. Asked if the arresting sailors were armed he said, "That is definite."

The foreigners were being detained on their tourist boat at a naval base in Tanjung Pinang on Bintan, an Indonesian island off Singapore, he said. The vessel flew a Thai flag but was operating out of Singapore, he said.

"The plan is maybe tonight (Wednesday night) they can be deported, maybe through Singapore," he said.

Admiral Yusuf said the incident did not happen along Indonesia's maritime border but well within the country's territorial waters.

In September, officials in East Timor said an Indonesian warship attempted to chase away foreign divers it apparently believed had strayed into Indonesian waters near the East Timor island of Atauro.

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago with more than 17,000 islands.

It has started paying attention along its borders after losing two islands to Malaysia in a December, 2002 decision by the International Court of Justice.

Indonesia's navy chief, Admiral Bernard Kent Sondakh, has warned conflict could erupt with neighbouring countries if Indonesia did not assert its sovereignty around 12 border islands.

AFP

How is Anambas? does anyone have experience diving there. They're located to further east of the east coast islands of peninsular malaysia. It's quite near.

 

[frogfish]

Anambas diving is ok except that there has been a lot of fish bombing. It is a stop on the way to the Udang Oil rigs which are a magnificent site.

The boat of divers you are referring to were not diving in Anambas. They were diving the 7 skies wreck which is somewhere between the Anambas islands and the Malaysian island of Pulau Aur.

 

[Albion]

How is Anambas? does anyone have experience diving there. They're located to further east of the east coast islands of peninsular malaysia. It's quite near.

This is not completely the truth, as frogfish mentions the incident too kplace at the 7 skies wreck which is in an area between indonesian and malaysian waters. Many dive boats organise trips to this dive site and it is not uncommon for two or three boats to be diving there over a weekend.

The full detials are not released yet, although the passengers, who were either singaporean or expats based in singapore, are now all back in singapore.

Here is a statement from the operators from early yesterday - quote
We sincerely thank everyone who has shared our concern for our divers and their family and friends. To help alleviate their concerns, we would like to share some factual information on the events leading up to the incident.

MV White Manta was operating a dive trip from Singapore to the 7 Skies Wreck in the South China Sea from 8-10 October 2004.

Passengers onboard the vessel consist of 21 Singaporeans, 2 Malaysians, 3 French Nationals, 2 New Zealanders, 2 Americans, 1 German, 1 Swiss and 6 Indonesian boat crew.

7 Skies is a popular dive site for many divers and dive operators from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

At approximately 9:15am on 9th October, the White Manta was boarded by an official of the Indonesian navy. This official, in plain clothes, came to White Manta on a dingy from a nearby dive vessel, the Bintan Explorer. There were no navy boats in the area.

The official informed the captain of the White Manta that the reason he had boarded was to determine if the ship was in international waters or Indonesian waters. After approximately one hour of discussion it was agreed that WM was in international waters and the official left. At approximately 12:30pm on the same day the official returned stating that he believed the outcome was inconclusive. After further discussions no agreement could be reached so a higher commander was called in from Terempa in the Anambas Islands.

The commander arrived at around 3pm on a navy boat and the White Manta was escorted to Terempa where it remained until 11am, Monday 11th October, at which time it sailed under escort to Tanjong Pinang.

During the return trip to Tanjong Pinang the Singapore authorities were made aware of the situation and representatives were put in place to meet the group of divers upon their arrival at Tanjong Pinang on 12 Oct at 1030am.

The Indonesian authorities have remained courteous, professional and often helpful throughout the ordeal and at no time have any of the passengers been harmed or threatened in any way. Contrary to earlier reports in the media, we would like to clarify that at no time was there any waving of guns or shouting, nor did they undertake a search of cabins and there was no demand for any money.

As of this morning, 13th October, the passengers remain onboard White Manta and are keen to return home as soon as possible. Everyone is reported to be calm and in good spirits. The passengers are being regularly updated on the status of the situation and they are now waiting for the processing of Immigration paperwork to be completed so that final arrangements can be made for their return to Singapore.
unquote

hope this clarifies the situation and avoids further speculation

 

[frogfish]

Thanks Albion for clarifying.

 

[Nomaster]

This is not completely the truth, as frogfish mentions the incident too kplace at the 7 skies wreck which is in an area between indonesian and malaysian waters. Many dive boats organise trips to this dive site and it is not uncommon for two or three boats to be diving there over a weekend.

hope this clarifies the situation and avoids further speculation

Was there ever further news?
Can I speculate that they didn't get their dives in?
Can I speculate whether they were out the time and cost of their trip.

Tom

 

[Albion]

Was there ever further news?
Can I speculate that they didn't get their dives in?
Can I speculate whether they were out the time and cost of their trip.

Tom

passengers are back, yes they did some diving but obiously not all they wanted

 

[hypermount]

I know the place 7 skies, from what I heard some people would actually go there from Aur without permission as I heard the distance between both places is quite near. Not the best to dive there at this time rite.

 

[Albion]

Actaully it is THE best time to dive there, last year this time i saw 4 mantas and a whale shark, or where you talking politically?

As mentioned above it is actually closer to Aur than to Pulau Damar (indonesia). Aur is sort of habitted whereas Damar is a rock with a disused lighthouse on it. up until now it has always been considered interantional waters and many dive boats (well two or three) could regularly be seen there of a weekend, and so it was never a 'sneak' out there kind of place. hence the suprise that indo has decided it is there teritory.

It is a nice wreck, upright and in not too bad condition and usualy a lot of ish life particularly this time of year

 

[fishnchips]

quote: ""Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago with more than 17,000 islands.

It has started paying attention along its borders after losing two islands to Malaysia in a December, 2002 decision by the International Court of Justice.

Indonesia's navy chief, Admiral Bernard Kent Sondakh, has warned conflict could erupt with neighbouring countries if Indonesia did not assert its sovereignty around 12 border islands. ""


That was not completely true. Indonesia did not lose 2 islands to Malaysia. It failed to rob Malaysia off 2 islands. Indonesia has the largest arm forces in South East Asia. For decades, it has insisted on claiming sovereignty on islands and lands of its neighbors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Confrontation

Like Albion mentioned. That location is actually closer to Aur. Indonesia has no claim in this area. If one can claim sovereignty by proximity, it would be Malaysia. While the Indonesian Navy is polite and courteous, it has no business arresting the dive boat in water that is not part of it's territory. Going to the front yard of your neighbor to show off militery power is not good diplomatic relationship.

 

[hypermount]

Thanks for the infos. Do you guys have any maritime map or something. It seems I couldn't find any on the Internet. Just want to know the exact location of the wrecks.