Why is Indonesia Not in the Saudi-led Sunni Coalition Against Terror?

The Saudis love coalitions. The Sunni monarchy had the Americans, the British, the French and sundry other oil importers on their side to drive Saddam’s legions out of Kuwait in 1991. Earlier this year, the Saudi military – for which read the youngest defence minister in the world and the ambitious Deputy Prime Minister, Mohamed bin Salman al-Saud – struck at the Kingdom’s Shia Houthi enemies in Yemen in yet another coalition. This included not only Saudi fighter-bombers but jets from Qatar, the Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan. 

Yemeni troops loyal to their Saudi-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi march during a parade military west of the city of Marib (Getty Images).

 But now – with all the drama of a new Hollywood franchise – the Saudis have announced their new multinational military epic against the “disease” of Islamic “terror”, starring more Muslim and would-be Muslim states than ever before assembled since the time of the Prophet. Once more, as in the Yemen adventure (already plagued by humanitarian catastrophe and credible accounts of the slaughter of civilians under Saudi air attacks), Prince Mohamed, aged 31, is leading his country.

In all seriousness, he announced that the battle of this latest “coalition” – which includes countries as mythical as “Palestine”, as corrupt as Afghanistan and as powerless as Lebanon, with bankrupt Chad and the Islamic Republic of the Comoros thrown in for good measure – would require “a very strong effort to fight”. Few spotted, however, the curious absence from the 34-strong “coalition” of Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population. 

This is very strange, since the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 mostly foreign civilians, brought al-Qaeda into Indonesia’s own “war against terror”. Surely Indonesia, with a Sunni population of more than 200 million, would have an interest in joining their fellow Sunni Muslims in this unprecedented “coalition”? Or could it be that with more than 30 Indonesian maids on Saudi Arabia’s death row after grotesquely unfair trials, the country wants an end to this injustice before committing its army to the Kingdom?

Pakistan is an interesting addition because the last time it was asked to fight for the Saudis, in the present disastrous Yemen civil war, the parliament in Islamabad rejected Saudi Arabia’s request after the Saudis insisted that only Sunni Muslim soldiers in the Pakistani army would be allowed to participate.

Saudi Arabia and another Sunni coalition have been on the offensive against tribesmen like these who are loyal to the Houthis in Yemen (Reuters).

All in all, then, a pretty vast “coalition” – most of whom are saddled with massive international debt and face constant economic collapse. So the real figures behind this extraordinary military force is not how many countries plan to participate, but how many millions – or billions – of dollars Saudi Arabia plans to pay them for their fraternal military assistance.

Along with the obvious question: just which strain of the “terror disease” does young Prince Mohamed intend to destroy? The Isis version – albeit spiritually founded on the same Sunni Wahabi purist doctrines which govern the Saudi state? The Nusrah version, which is espoused by the very same Qatar which is now part of this weird “coalition”? The Shia Houthis of Yemen, who are regarded as pro-Iranian terrorists by the Sunni Yemeni President whom the Saudis support? And what kind of relationship do the Saudis envision with the Iranians who are fighting in both Iraq and Syria against the same Isis “terror” which our favourite Saudi prince identifies as part of the “disease”? Neither Shia Iran nor Shia Iraq, needless to say, is part of the new international Muslim army.

So we know there’s a “coalition”. But who will it fight? How much will it be paid? And why is this a largely Sunni Muslim force rather than just a Muslim “coalition”?

Indonesia-Russia Su-35 Fighter Deal Till To Be Inked

Indonesia has not yet made a final decision on the purchase of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E) jets, an Indonesian Defense Ministry official said Monday.

In September, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said Indonesia had decided to replace its US-made Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighter jets with Russian Sukhoi Su-35s.

Jan Pieter Ate, director for international cooperation at the Indonesian defense ministry, said the country is interested in purchasing 32 advanced aircraft but a decision on the supplier had not yet been made and at the moment Indonesia is not engaged in direct negotiations with Russia on the matter.

The official told RIA Novosti that according to Indonesian law, any contract for the purchase of foreign weaponry should entail the transfer of at least 35 percent of the procured technology to the country. Ate added that such an agreement with Russia has still to be made.

Last month, the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade, citing sources, reported that Western companies had intensified their efforts to persuade Indonesia to purchase their aircraft after Jakarta announced its decision to buy Russian Su-35s.

Russia's Su-35 fighter was first introduced to a foreign audience at the 2013 Paris Air Show as a "4++ generation" heavily-upgraded derivative of the Su-27 multirole fighter.

Source: Sputnik News

Flankers Roaring Over Archipelagos!

Indonesian TNI-AU Flankers.
Sukhoi Su-27/30 s MK2:

Indonesia getting it's sting along with Su-35 Super Flankers

Indonesia has reiterated its desire to order 16 Sukhoi Su-35 fighters to replace its aging fleet of Northrop F-5Es.

Defence minister Ryamizard Ryacudu says the air force’s familiarty with the Su-27, of which Jakarta has 16, was a key influencer in the air force’s decision for the Su-35. His comments were carried by state news agency Antara.

He adds that the acquisition will take place “gradually” and depends on the availability of funds. Jakarta will also require technology transfer as part of the any order, which is still contingent on government approval.

In January 2014, Ryacudu’s predecessor as defence minister said that Indonesia was looking at several types of fighters to replace the F-5Es. Types considered include the Boeing F-15, Lockheed Martin F-16, Saab Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Su-35.

Flightglobal’s MiliCas database shows that Indonesia’s fixed wing combat aircraft fleet includes eight Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos, six F-5Es, eight F-16s, 14 BAE Systems Hawk 209s, and 16 Su-27s.

Longer term, Jakarta hopes to obtain 80 Korea Aerospace Industries KFX fighters. The KFX is a developmental twin-engined fighter that will be developed by South Korea. Seoul, which wants to buy 120 KFXs, has an 80% share in the programme, and Jakarta 20%.

The Su-35 has yet to lock down its first foreign customer, but China is also interested in buying 24 examples.

Chang Bogo-class submarines for Indonesia

Chang Bogo class submarines of Indonesian Navy under construction in S. Korean Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. It's based on German Type 209/1200 submarines.

The Republic of Korea submarine ROKS Lee Eokgi (SS 071) leads a formation of U.S. and coalition forces during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises.

DSME signed a contract with Indonesia on for the supply of three Improved Chang Bogo class submarines. These submarines will be equipped with Atlas Electronic CSU 90 hull-mounted passive and active search-and-attack sonar and flank sonar arrays, Indra's Pegaso RESM system and Aries low-probability of intercept radar, L-3's MAPPS integrated platform management systems and Sagem's Sigma 40XP inertial navigation systems. These subs will be of 1400 tons displacement.

The Chang Bogo class submarines are armed with 8 bow 533 mm torpedo tubes and 14 torpedoes. The ships are also armed with Sub-Harpoon missiles and can be armed with 28 Mines in place of Torpedoes and Harpoon. The class is armed with SUT - Surface and Underwater Target Torpedoes.

BREAKING: Malaysian PM News Conference over MH370 Hijacked (Youtube link)

Detachment 88

 

Detachment 88 logo

Special Detachment 88 (Detasemen Khusus 88), Delta 88, or Densus 88, is a Special Forces Indonesian counter-terrorism squad, and part of the Indonesian National Police. Formed on 30 June 2003, after the 2002 Bali bombings, it is funded, equipped, and trained by the United States and Australia.

History

Bali bombing site

Detachment 88 was formed after the 2002 Bali bombings and became operational in 2003. The name of the organization is a result of a senior Indonesian police official mishearing "ATA" in a briefing on the US Department of State's Anti-Terrorist Assistance program as "88".

He thought it would be a good name as the number 8 is a lucky number in Asia and other officials lacked the courage to correct him.

Detachment 88 Fall-in

However, according to Brig. Gen. Pranowo, the Indonesian Police Headquarter Anti-Terror Director, the number "88" is taken from the number of Australian fatalities in the 2002 Bali bombing, the largest number from a single country.

Detachment 88 has disrupted the activities of Central Java–based Islamist movement Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and many of its top operatives have been arrested or killed. Abu Dujana, suspected leader of JI's military wing and its possible emir, was apprehended on June 9, 2007. Azahari Husin was shot and killed in 2005. The Indonesian terrorist organization suffered a further blow when arguably its last surviving and at-large prominent figure, Noordin Mohammad Top was killed in a shootout with Detachment 88 on September 17, 2009 at Solo, Central Java.

Detachment 88 Special Vehicle

Detachment 88 Convoy

Detachment 88 is assisted by foreign agencies, including the Australian Federal Police, in forensic sciences including DNA analysis, and communications monitoring. In pre-emptive strikes in Java, the unit thwarted attack plans to material assembly.

Detachment 88 operators were involved in an operation in Poso, where 10 people, including a policeman, were killed in a gunfight during a high-risk arrest operation on January 22, 2007.

 

Detachment 88 in action

In 2007, Detachment 88 arrested and interrogated West Papuan human rights lawyer, Iwangin Sabar Olif, and charged him with incitement and insulting the head of state, because he sent an SMS text message critical of the Indonesian military and president. Detachment 88's operations include using US intelligence officers in its Jakarta headquarters to tap the phone calls and read the SMS text messages of Indonesian civilians.

Training

This special unit is being funded by the US government through its State Department's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The unit is currently being trained in Megamendung, 50 km south of Jakarta, by the CIA, FBI, and US Secret Service.

Most of these instructors were ex–US special forces personnel. Training is also carried out with the aid of Australian Special Forces and various intelligence agencies. 

 Detachment 88 is designed to become an anti-terrorist unit that is capable to counter various terrorist threats, from bomb threats to hostage situations. This 400-personnel strong special force went to full operation in 2005. They consist of investigators, explosive experts, and an attack unit that includes snipers. 

Weapons

M4A1 carbine

Detachment 88 officers are frequently seen armed with a M4A1 carbine when an operation or a raid is conducted while the Glock 17 pistol is used as the standard sidearm.

Glock 17

Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun

They also use a varied arsenal of weapons such as the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, Steyr AUG assault rifles, Remington 700 and Armalite AR-10 sniper rifles, Ithaca 37 and Remington 870 shotguns, Heckler & Koch HK416 rifles.

 

Steyr AUG assault rifle

Remington 700 sniper rifle

 

Armalite AR-10 sniper rifle

 

Ithaca 37 shotgun

 

Remington 870 shotgun

 

Heckler & Koch HK416 rifle

Allegations of torture

The unit has been accused of involvement of torture. In August 2010, Amnesty International said in an urgent appeal that Indonesia had arrested Moluccan activists, and they had anxiety that the activists would be tortured by Detachment 88. In September 2010, Malukan political prisoner Yusuf Sipakoly alleged gross human rights abuses by Detachment 88.

Source: Wikipedia  

China's Maritime Disputes

 

 

In light of the recent entry by Galrahn on the issue of China's expanded map, I want to just put my thoughts on this. I was originally thinking of writing a separate entry on the dramatic expansion of China's maritime surveillance agencies of CMS and FLEC, but I want to spend a little time just looking at the non-military part of this.

 

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve both land (island) and maritime disputes among seven sovereign states within the region, namely the:

• People's Republic of China (PRC)
• Republic of China (Taiwan)
• Philippines
• Vietnam
• Malaysia
• Brunei
• Indonesia

 

 

 

The main point I want to make here is that China's border dispute with entirely different than its border dispute with India and the countries around South China Sea. We often read about China's recent actions have made neighbouring countries feel uneasy and have pushed them toward America. While I do agree the other countries reactions have been similar, it's important to note that these are different issues for Chinese people.

And this has everything to do with the historical relationship of the two countries. It starts from 1895 when China was badly defeated by Japan, who it had always looked upon as a vassal nation. The unfair treaty which resulted in war reparation in addition to annexation of Taiwan was followed up by the brutal Russo-Japanese war of 1905 which was fought over Chinese soil and resulted in the Japanese control of Lushun (Port Arthur). Of course, all of this was small compared to the occupation of Manchuria in 1931 and second Sino-Japanese War between 1937 and 1945. The Chinese side has claimed that around 20 million civilians were killed during this conflict. If that's true, it would in effect be the equivalent of 3 holocausts. I do not know how accurate these numbers are, but I did hear a story (growing up) where my friend's ancestor was tortured to death by Japanese soldiers. And my opinion is that most people born in my generation or prior in China probably have heard of such stories from their family or friends. When I visited Nanjing in 2006, I was told by locals that the only place not pillaged during the Nanking massacre was the Sun Yat-Sen memorial. Even by then, Japanese business was not allowed on the city's premise. 

 

There has been a lot of anger within China toward Japan in the past 10 years due to the visits by Koizumi/Abe of the Yasukuni Shrine and the denials of wartime atrocities by some Japanese Nationalists. While I do not think that the Japanese government is denying th war atrocities, I do think a lot of people in China would feel better toward Japanese if the Japanese government adopt the same attitude toward this subject as Germany has adopted toward the Holocaust. When something like the recent Diaoyu/Senkaku dispute came up, it came across as another reminder of Japanese aggression for Chinese people. Back when the two countries normalized relations in 1978, Deng Xiaoping made a strategic decision to not overly press Japan over this issue in exchange of money and technology to help with the Chinese economy. And I think while China was still economically weak and needing Japan, this was something it was willing to do (not overly voicing past grievances). However with China's growing power in the past 10 years, this is no longer the case, so the current generation of Chinese population and officials do not see the need to hold pacifying attitude toward Japan. With the Koizumi/Abe visits, all of these anger/grievances from the past 60 years flared up and it is tough for me to see how relations between China/Japan will get better.

The difference between the Diaoyu/Senkaku dispute and the South China Sea dispute is that the entire Chinese population is invested in this issue. It's not just the PLA or a group of nationalist cranks on the internet forums that are passionate about this, it's the ordinary people. You've seen that with the wide spread boycotting of Japanese business in the past few months due to the outrage in China over the entire Diaoyu/Senkaku issues. This is not just a couple of islands. This is 70 years of grievances. It's also seen in the expansion of civilian maritime patrol fleet. In the past few months, 11 ships from PLAN have been sent to the shipyards to be retrofitted and removed of weaponry so that they can join the CMS fleet and patrol the disputed regions with Japan. And I think that until the Japanese government adopts an attitude toward its World War II crimes toward China (and South Korea) as Germany has toward Israel, there will always be that underlying tension that makes all border disputes even worse. I think that the relationship between the two countries have gotten so bad that it may be more likely a conflict will break out between China and Japan rather than China and Taiwan in the next 10 years. That's really unfortunate, because the two countries have so much to gain in this economically unstable period if they can somehow move past this issue and resolve past grievances.

As a last point, it really bugs me that Japan is often put in the same category as Vietnam/Philippines with regards to needing American help to defend itself against the big bad Chinese. Even with the rise of PLAN, JMSDF is still clearly the stronger force at this time. The Japanese civilian patrol fleet is also a very powerful fleet, so it is not going to be scared away by the presence of a few 1500 ton CMS cutters. In fact, CMS has this huge build up just so that it can get somewhat close to the size of its Japanese counterpart.