Malaysia said yesterday its ongoing maritime border spat with Indonesia, which flared again recently, triggering angry protests, could end up in the International Court of Justice.
Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot said both countries erred in the latest incident which saw Malaysian fishermen and Indonesian officials detained. In the ensuing protest human feces were flung at its embassy in Jakarta.
Riot said the neighbors had met on a regular basis to try to resolve the maritime border dispute, but that there was still no agreement on demarcation.
“I don’t think it will be quick. After 16 meetings it has not been resolved so I don’t think it can be solved that fast,” he told reporters.
“If it comes to the breaking point, the International Court of Justice will be the place where the claims are resolved as the last resort,” he said, referring to the UN’s highest court, in The Hague.
Last month, seven Malaysian fishermen were detained in disputed waters off southern Malaysia by Indonesian authorities who accused them of encroaching into their territory.
Three of the Indonesian officials were detained by Malaysian maritime authorities who intercepted the group as they were being taken back to Indonesia.
All those involved have been released, but the incident provoked an angry response in Indonesia, forcing security at the Malaysian mission in Jakarta to be stepped up.
Riot said the latest spat was a result of “mistakes” by both sides.
“They came into our waters to tow away our fishermen and we stopped them in their waters,” he said.
Riot said the two nations would meet again on Monday in Malaysia to try to soothe tempers and work out a way to move on.
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