2 women share 1st kiss at US Navy ship's return

Associated Press, by Brock Vergakis, Dec 21, 2011

PettyOfficer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, kisses her girlfriend of two years, 

Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek 

in Virginia Beach, Va., Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2011 after Gaeta's ship returned

 from 80 days at sea. It ís a time-honored tradition at Navy homecomings - one 

lucky sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for the long-awaited kiss witha loved

 one. On Wednesday, for the first time, the happily reunited couple wasgay.

(AP Photo/The Virginian-Pilot, Brian J. Clark)

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VIRGINIABEACH, Va. (AP) -- A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S.military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two womensailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on thepier after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

PettyOfficer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of Placerville, Calif., descended from the USSOak Hill amphibious landing ship and shared a quick kiss in the rain with herpartner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles. Gaeta, 23, woreher Navy dress uniform while Snell, 22, wore a black leather jacket, scarf andblue jeans. The crowd screamed and waved flags around them.

"It'ssomething new, that's for sure," Gaeta told reporters after the kiss.

"It'snice to be able to be myself. It's been a long time coming."

For thehistorical significance of the kiss, there was little to differentiate it fromcountless others when a Navy ship pulls into its home port following adeployment. Neither the Navy nor the couple tried to draw attention to what washappening and many onlookers waiting for their loved ones to come off the shipwere busy talking among themselves.

DavidBauer, the commanding officer of the USS Oak Hill, said that Gaeta and Snell'skiss would largely be a non-event and the crew's reaction upon learning who wasselected to have the first kiss was positive.

"It'sgoing to happen and the crew's going to enjoy it. We're going to move on and itwon't overshadow the great things that this crew has accomplished over the pastthree months," Bauer said.

The shipreturned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story following an80-day deployment to Central America. The crew of more than 300 participated inexercises involving the militaries of Honduras, Guatemala Colombia and Panamaas part of Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station 2012.

Both womenare Navy fire controlmen, who maintain and operate weapons systems on ships.They met at training school where they were roommates and have been dating fortwo years, which they said was difficult under "don't ask, don'ttell."

"Wedid have to hide it a lot in the beginning," Snell said. "A lot ofpeople were not always supportive of it in the beginning, but we can finally behonest about who we are in our relationship, so I'm happy."

Navyofficials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple waschosen to kiss first upon a ship's return. Sailors and their loved ones bought$1 raffle tickets for the opportunity. Gaeta said she bought $50 of tickets, afigure that she said pales in comparison to amounts that some other sailors andtheir loved ones had bought. The money was used to host a Christmas party forthe children of sailors.

Snell saidshe believes their experience won't be the last one for gays and lesbians inthe military.

"Ithink that it's something that is going to open a lot of doors, for not justour relationship, but all the other gay and lesbian relationships that are inthe military now," she said.

Snell isbased on the USS Bainbridge, the guided missile destroyer that helped rescuecargo captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in 2009.

Online:Brock Vergakis can be reached at www.twitter.com/BrockVergakis

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President Barack Obama gestures as he talks about cutting the U.S. deficit
 by raising taxes, from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington
September 19, 2011. (Credit: Reuters/Larry Downing)

About the Challenges of Being a Gay Man – Oct 23, 2010 (Saint Germain channelled by Alexandra Mahlimay and Dan Bennack) - “You see, your Soul and Creator are not concerned with any perspective you have that contradicts the reality of your Divinity – whether this be your gender, your sexual preference, your nationality – or your race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or anything else.”

"The Akashic System" – Jul 17, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Religion, God, Benevolent Design, DNA, Akashic Circle, (Old) Souls, Gaia, Indigenous People, Talents, Reincarnation, Genders, Gender Switches, In “between” Gender Change, Gender Confusion, Shift of Human Consciousness, Global Unity,..... etc.)

Shore leave

The Jakarta Post, Antara, Makassar | Mon, 04/11/2011

Shore leave: The USS Guardian-MCM 5, a US warship, docks at
 Soekarno-Hatta Port in Makassar on Monday. The ship, with a crew
 of 83, will be in Makassar for two days in a goodwill mission and to
 renew their logistics. (Antara/Yusran Uccang)

Navy training linked to at least 3 dolphin deaths

AP, Mar. 26, 2011

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Naval training exercise that included an underwater blast off San Diego's coast has been linked to at least three dolphin deaths earlier this month, prompting a probe into whether the military violated the federal law that protects marine mammals.

Navy officials, who reported the deaths of the long-beaked common dolphins following the March 4 detonation off the coast, say they were following proper procedures and will continue with the training.

The National Marine Fisheries Service plans to take another look at the Navy's pending request to disturb marine mammals between Imperial Beach and Coronado, where it conducts amphibious and special warfare training, agency leaders told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday.

The Navy's application, which has been in the works for years, says it does not anticipate any dolphin deaths due to training. But following the March 4 incident, the fisheries service opened an enforcement case to determine whether the Navy violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which is designed to safeguard dolphins, whales and similar creatures.

Along with the three deaths reported to the fisheries service, two other dead dolphins were found later, but it's not clear if they were injured by the Navy exercises.

Environmentalists have called on the Navy to suspend activities involved in the deaths and conduct a transparent investigation.

But Navy officials said the program it calls "mission-critical" would continue. They said they were following proper procedures on the day of the blast and are conducting their own investigation to see if changes are necessary.

"We have an excellent track record in our training and have exacting standards that we apply to try to prevent these types of incidents," Cmdr. Greg Hicks, a spokesman for the Navy's Third Fleet, told the Union-Tribune. "We do our best to protect marine life while conducting essential training."

Hicks said there were no dolphins in view when the training countdown began, and when they could be seen it was too late to stop safely.

He could not say how many underwater blasts the Navy has performed at the site in recent years. Documents show the Navy's permit request for underwater explosives involve up to 415 "small" detonations during 311 training events a year.

Underwater explosives are important for clearing obstacles out of harbors so ships can enter. When the Navy practices with them offshore, Hicks said observers look for dolphins, seals, whales and similar creatures that might swim into the danger zone.

Michael Jasny of the Natural Resources Defense Council, which years ago sued the Navy to minimize damage to whales by sonar, said the Navy doesn't have the best environmental record when it comes to ocean life.

"There is training and there is training safely with full safeguards for the protection of the environment," Jasny said. "They haven't always done that."

Information from: The San Diego Union-Tribune, http://www.signonsandiego.com

Related Article:

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Navy to axe 'Fukushima type' nuclear reactors from submarines

Reactors sharing similar design to ones at Japanese plant to be dropped because they fail to meet safety standards

guardian.co.uk, Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent, Wednesday 23 March 2011

Trident submarines based at Faslane, Scotland, and six Trafalgar-class
subs have reactors similar to the ones involved in Japan's nuclear
crisis. Photograph: Corbis

The Royal Navy is to drop a dangerous type of reactor used in its existing nuclear submarines because it fails to meet modern safety standards, defence ministers have disclosed.

A safer type of reactor is expected to be used in the submarines that will replace the Trident fleet, as the existing design shares very similar features to the nuclear reactors involved in the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in Japan.

Liam Fox, the defence secretary, told MPs there was a "very clear-cut" case to use the new type of reactor because it has "improved nuclear safety" and would give "a better safety outlook".

A heavily censored Ministry of Defence report disclosed earlier this month by the Guardian and Channel 4 News said the current reactors are "potentially vulnerable" to fatal accidents, which could cause "multiple fatalities" among submarine crews.

The report, written by a senior MoD nuclear safety expert, Commodore Andrew McFarlane, said the existing type compared "poorly" with those in the most modern nuclear power stations because it relied on a vulnerable type of cooling system, falling "significantly short" of modern best practice for nuclear reactors.

McFarlane warned that the naval reactors are "potentially vulnerable to a structural failure of the primary circuit". An accident could release "highly radioactive fission products", posing "a significant risk to life to those in close proximity and a public safety hazard out to 1.5km [1 mile] from the submarine".

Known as the PWR2, this type is used in the four Trident submarines based at Faslane, near Glasgow, and six Trafalgar-class ones now being taken out of service. Like the Fukushima power station north of Tokyo, the PWR2 relies entirely on back-up power supplies to provide emergency cooling in the event of an accident.

Despite the anxieties about its safety, PWR2s are also being fitted in the seven Astute-class submarines being built. These vessels will also be based at Faslane.

There have been debates within the MoD and the navy about whether the PWR2 should be used if a replacement to Trident is finally approved – or if a safer type, PWR3, should replace it. The PWR3 uses "passive" cooling, which makes it far less reliant on back-up power, and has additional methods of injecting coolant into a reactor.

The PWR3 is widely used in modern US nuclear submarines. The debate has delayed a decision on what type of reactor to install by 18 months, McFarlane's report disclosed, and has cost a further £261m.

Fox was questioned in the Commons on the reactor's safety by Angus Robertson, the Scottish National party's defence spokesman, after the disclosure of the report. Fox said: "The government's view is that that is the preferred option, because those reactors give us a better safety outlook. That is a debate on both sides of the Atlantic, but we believe that in terms of safety, the case is very clear-cut."

Robertson said: "This still raises concerns about the currently operational and incoming nuclear submarines, which don't satisfy acceptable safety standards. The UK should give up its nuclear obsession."

John Ainslie, from the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, who uncovered the original McFarlane report, said the new reactor would push up costs for the Trident replacement fleet by billions of pounds, since it would need designing and testing.

"There is another option: they should completely abandon their plan to squander billions on new nuclear submarines," he said.

Navy grants ferry to Sangihe administration

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 01/31/2011

The Indonesian Navy granted on Monday a ferry to the Sangihe islands administration, North Sulawesi, to help resolve its protracted sea transportation problems.

Indonesian Navy chief Adm. Seoparno handed over the ferry to the administration, witnessed by among others North Sulawesi Governor Sarundajang.

Sangihe islands deputy regent Jabes Gaghana said the ferry would be used to transport people from Tahuna to Manado and back.

Indonesians, two foreigners nabbed in piracy attempt

The Jakarta Post, Wed, 01/26/2011

An Indonesian Navy ship foiled an attempt by pirates to raid a spice-laden vessel on Tuesday, arresting nine pirates including a Malaysian and a Singaporean, in international waters north of Bintan Island.

The commander of Indonesian Navy Ship Kelabang 828, Maj. Bambang Wasito, said on Wednesday that the perpetrators had tried to capture private vessel MV Lucky Star, which was on its way to Songklak in Thailand on Tuesday before midnight, Tempo.interaktif reported.

The suspects, including seven Indonesians and two foreigners, were taken to a naval base in Batam for interrogation.Loaded with spices, the Indonesian flagged MV Lucky Star left Dumai on Monday with 13 crew members on board.

Bambang said the pirates, who had been on a boat with an outboard motor, had not attempted to resist when the naval ship with 40 navy officers on board approached. The  incident was the first case of piracy in Riau waters reported this year.

An Indonesian Navy ship foiled an attempt by pirates to raid a spice-laden vessel on Tuesday, arresting nine pirates including a Malaysian and a Singaporean, in international waters north of Bintan Island.

The commander of Indonesian Navy Ship Kelabang 828, Maj. Bambang Wasito, said on Wednesday that the perpetrators had tried to capture private vessel MV Lucky Star, which was on its way to Songklak in Thailand on Tuesday before midnight, Tempo.interaktif reported.

The suspects, including seven Indonesians and two foreigners, were taken to a naval base in Batam for interrogation.

Loaded with spices, the Indonesian flagged MV Lucky Star left Dumai on Monday with 13 crew members on board.

Bambang said the pirates, who had been on a boat with an outboard motor, had not attempted to resist when the naval ship with 40 navy officers on board approached. The  incident was the first case of piracy in Riau waters reported this year.

Navy arrests boat selling illegal diesel oil

Antara News, Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - Tanjungpinang navy patrol in Riau Islands intercepted and arrested an illegal diesel oil boat and its crew of four when selling its cargo in Anak Lobam waters, Bintan regency.

"We also seized the boat and 40 tons of illegal diesel oil which was about to be sold at sea," commander of Tanjungpinang naval patrol Major Hariyo Poernomo said here on Monday.

Hariyo said the nameless vessel with four crewmen, namely Rusli, Nur Khatib, Lahode and M Nur, was arrested by the navy patrol boat in Anak Lobam waters on Tuesday (Dec 21) at 2 am when sailing from Buluh Island in Batam.

"They were about to sell the illegal diesel oil to tug boats passing the area," Hariyo said.

It appeared that the diesel came from boats selling the illegal oil and received by Alimin who told the four suspects to resell it.

Hariyo said a thorough investigation showed that the diesel oil as well as the boat did not have any papers.

"They have violated the law on navigation and the law on oil and gas," he added.

He added that the sale of illegal diesel oil at sea had frequently happened and the capacity of the boat is normally 100 tons.

The skipper of the boat carrying the illegal diesel oil, M Nur (58), said Alimin simply told them to bring the oil to the Tekulai waters from Buluh Batam island.

"We have no idea where the oil came from and we were told to only take the boat to Tekulai before to other boats came," he said. Nur said Alimin paid him for bringing the boat with 40 tons of diesel oil on board, but refused to say how much exactly was the payment.

The boat with the four frewmen is now held at the naval patrol basis in Tanjung Unggat, Tanjungpinang.

Three Chinese Naval ships making goodwill visit

Antara News, Monday, December 27, 2010

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Three Chinese Navy ships arrived at Indonesia`s Tanjung Priok port on Monday n a goodwill mission during which their crews would execute several programs designed to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

The flotilla`s commander, Major General Wei Xueyi, said in his remarks on arrival that the visit was intended to enhance relations between the two navies and the two countries in general.

The Chinese ships were welcomed by Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue and Brigadier General Arif Suherman, commander of Indonesia`s third navy base (Lantamal III) and members of the Chinese community in Indonesia.

"During our visit, our crews will also take the opportunity to go sightseeing in the Indonesian capital, meet local people, and sample local life. We are very pleased to have this chance of visiting Indonesia," Major General Wei Xueyi said

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Qiyue said the Chinese warships` visit was part of activities to mark 60 years of Indonesia-China diplomatic relations and friendship this year. The visit was also expected to improve the relationship between the navies of the two countries.

During their five-day stay in Indonesia, the Chinese crews are to conduct a series of activities, including visiting Indonesian naval ships , and compete with Indonesian naval personnel in several sports events.

"I hope the visit will improve our communication and understanding with the Indonesian navy as well as the Indonesian people. We also hope the friendship between Indonesia and China will develop further in the future ," he said.

The Chinese flotilla consists of an amphibious landing ship, the Kunlunshan, a destroyer, the Lanzhou, and a supply ship, the Weishanshu and carrying a combined crew of 1,000 men.

It had just completed patrol duties in the Gulf of Aden and in Somali waters to combat sea piracy rampant in those areas.

The flotilla is the sixth China had deployed in the Gulf of Aden and in Somali waters.

The previous five Chinese flotillas in the Gulf of Aden had escorted 2,248 Chinese and foreign ships in 213 batches in this region, which have been plagued by pirate attacks, since December 2008.

The sixth flotilla had escorted 615 ships, including five from Indonesia, during its service period, expelling 190 suspicious boats, saving one ship hijacked by Somali pirates and three others being chased by pirates.

Customs seizes illegal explosives from Malaysia

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/21/2010

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise confiscated 50 tons of ammonium nitrate, a raw material used to produce explosives, from a boat sailing from Malaysia.

Directorate General of Customs and Excise spokesperson Evi Suhartantyo said they stopped the ship flying an Indonesia flag, the KM Salbiana Jaya, in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

The ship, which had a crew of 14, was loaded with 2,000 sacks or 50 tons of explosive ammonium nitrate, and was traveling from Malaysia to Sulawesi.

“The ship has been towed to the Tanjung Balai Karimun office for further investigation. This is a loss for our defense sector as well as for our environment” Evi said, adding that the smuggling attempt would cost the state Rp 2 billion (US$222,000).

Boat with 50 passengers capsizes, only 30 rescued

Antara News, Saturday, October 23, 2010

Ende, Flores  (ANTARA News) - Some 30 passengers were rescued but tens of others went missing after the motorboat they were traveling in capsized in the Flores Sea in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) at around 3 on Friday afternoon.

Maumere Naval Base Commander Col Suroso Hadiwiboso said here on Saturday that the ill-fated boat was engulfed by big waves at Cape Watumana on its way from Palue island to Maumere in Sikka district on Flores island.

"The total number of passengers who had been in the boat remains unclear but according to unofficial information it carried more than 50 people when it capsized," Hadiwibowo said, adding that 30 of them were rescued while around 20 others remained missing.

He said as of Saturday morning rescue workers assisted by water police and local fishermen were still searching for the missing passengers of the ill-fated boat.

The boat was reported to have left Palue island at 4 on Friday afternoon for Maumere, but one hour after that it entered rough seas at Cape Watumana and was hit by big waves that caused it to capsize.

Two Vietnamese-flagged boats seized for allegedly poaching in Natuna

Antara News, Monday, October 18, 2010 22:31 WIB

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - A navy patrol has seized two Vietnamese-flagged boats for allegedly poaching in Natuna island waters.

The two boats had been seized because they were in the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea without permits from the Indonesian government, Navy Eastern Fleet Command spokesman Lt Col Yayan Sugiana said here on Monday.

The BV-99678 boat weighing 130 gross tons led by skipper Hun and 22 crew members are now secured at the Ranai naval base in Riau Islands along with the other boat KG-15381 weighing 90 gross tons led by skipper Yui, he said.

Another navy patrol ship, KRI Sangkulirang-542 involved in the Eastern Regional Sea Security Operations meanwhile have seized two boats found conducting illegal transactions in the Makassar Strait.

The LCT Muara Samudera Pacific and MT Cahaya Ujung-03 are now being held at Kotabara naval base in South Kalimantan. "The two boats are believed to have conducted fuel oil trading illegally at sea," Yayan said quoting the captain of KRI Teluk Sangkulirang, Ipong Wicaksono as saying.

He said the skipper of LCT Muara Samudera Pacific, Yuli Purwanto, failed to show a radio station permit and did not put up a registration sign.The boat weighing 1,215 gross ton carried 13 Indonesian crew members.

MT Cahaya Ujung with its skipper Nasir carried 30 tons of fuel oil believed to have been obtained illegally. The boat with eight crew on board did not carry shipping permit documents and a national pollution prevention certificate.

Stately Portuguese Visitor Sails Calmly Into Jakarta

Jakarta Globe, Ismira Lutfia  | September 27, 2010   

Jakarta. The Portuguese training ship Sagres sailed into Jakarta with great fanfare from the Indonesian Navy on Saturday to begin its its five-day stopover here.

The Portuguese Navy’s training ship Sagres in Jakarta’s
 Tanjung Priok port. The ship will be open to the public
 through Thursday on its first visit to Indonesia as part of
 its global goodwill cruise. (JG Photo/Ismira Lutfia)    

Arriving at the Tanjung Priok port after a week-long voyage from Dili, East Timor, Sagres will be open to the public until Thursday before it continues on its journey to Bangkok as part of its 11-month circumnavigation as “a floating embassy of Portugal,” said the ship’s captain, Comr. Luis Proenca Mendes.

“We will continue sailing to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India and Egypt before reaching Lisbon by December,” said Second Lt. Flavio Eusobio, an officer on the ship.

This is the ship’s first journey to East Timor and Indonesia, Mendes said. The detour from its normal route from China to Singapore added six weeks to the ship’s itinerary.

“The ship’s main purpose is to train cadets from the Portuguese naval academy, who undergo three months’ training on board the ship at the end of their second year,” the captain said as he took journalists on a tour around the vessel, whose 23 white sails bear red crosses.

Sagres left its home port of Lisbon in January. 

The last batch of cadets who trained on the Sagres joined the ship in California, bound for Shanghai, where the ship docked to participate at the Shanghai World Expo.

The 12 cadets worked daily on the ship’s bridge to familiarize them with the working life on board a ship. They also learn navigation, maneuvering and leadership skills as well as how to deal with unpredictable weather.

And for the younger generation, used to being constantly connected with the rest of the world through their gadgets, Mendes said the cadets’ time on the bridge gives them the unique experience of being offline and away from the phone.

“From time to time we also invite foreign cadets to join our training on Sagres,” said Mendes, who was made captain of Sagres in 2007.

Eusobio said Sagres was built in Germany in 1937 along with two other ships of similar type. Its original name was Albert Leo Schalgeter, and it belonged to the German Navy from 1937 to 1945.

It was captured by the American forces in World Ward II and was handed over to Brazil in 1948.

It was named Guanabara under the Brazilian flag before the Portuguese bought it in 1962, when it was commissioned into the Portuguese Navy with the name Sagres.

The ship’s other missions in its 2010 circumnavigation are to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Peace, Friendship and Commerce Treaty between Portugal and Japan in Tokyo and the 500th anniversary of the Portuguese arrival in the Far East.

East Timor was a colony of Portugal in the 16th century until it declared independence in November 1975 but was invaded by Indonesian troops just days later. 

“This is a navy ship but it carries a message of friendship,” Mendes said.

Yudhoyono calls for maritime resurgence

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon | Wed, 08/04/2010 9:04 AM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he hoped that the 2010 Sail Banda festival would create momentum for Indonesia to improve its maritime resource management.

Show of force: Several warships sail in formation
during the main event of the Sail Banda 2010
maritime festival at Yos Sudarso Port in Ambon,
Maluku, on Tuesday.President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono attended the parade on Tuesday.
JP/Nurhayati

“I’ve requested the maritime affairs and fisheries minister boost productivity in the marine and fishery sectors to ensure that we emerge as one of the world’s leading fish producers in the near future,” Yudhoyono said Tuesday in a speech to mark the festival’s peak at the Yos Sudarso port in Ambon.

Yudhoyono said the event should encourage the younger generation to be devoted to the sea and optimize the exploitation of the sea’s wealth for the nation’s benefit, as well as empower coastal communities in remote and outer islands.

“Make sure that the fishing industry is followed by the increase in the number of fishing fleets and empowerment of Indonesian fishing crews. Make sure that the fishery and maritime sector can absorb manpower and boost economic growth,” he said.

Yudhoyono also gave his support for Maluku to become the national fish center given the island province’s overflowing maritime resources.

“I am in favor of the initiative of the people of Maluku and the government to make Maluku a national fish center,” he said.

Yudhoyono said the government would immediately instruct relevant agencies to assist the development of the province’s maritime and fishery sectors.

“The government is committed to improving the infrastructure of the maritime and fishery sectors. We will continue to build more fishing ports and fish processing facilities,” he said.

Maluku is situated in the “golden fishing grounds” of the Arafura, Seram and Banda seas, where the combined fisheries resources amounts to 1.64 million tons annually.

“We must take advantage of this huge potential for the sake of public welfare,” he said.

The territorial waters of Maluku — which span more than 600,000 square kilometers and contain more than 1,400 small islands — is prone to poaching by foreign vessels.

Yudhoyono said that maritime security had to be heightened to curb fish theft.

One festival highlight was Operation Bakti Surya Baskara Jaya, which provided free medical care to more than 37,000 patients across the islands.

Medical aid was given on shore and on board several naval vessels, such as the KRI Dr. Soeharso from Indonesia, the USNS Mercy from the US, the RSS Endeavour from Singapore and the HMAS Labuan and HMAS Tarakan from Australia.

More than 500 youths from several provinces traveled to Maluku aboard the KM Makassar to take part in the festival. Other highlights will include the National Cultural Festival, which will include 750 participants from across the country; a national sailing race; competitions in diving and underwater photography; a fisheries exhibition; local cultural performances; a mangrove planting and a feast featuring 2010 different fish dishes.

The government’s job?: Hundreds of people queue up to get free medical treatment at Tulehu Public Hospital in Central Maluku on Monday. The free medication was provided by the US, UK, Singapore and other countries participating in the 2010 Sail Banda regatta. JP/Nurhayati

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Indonesia, US navies conduct disaster handling exercise

Antara News, Thursday, July 29, 2010 19:28 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The United States and Indonesian navies held a joint exercise on Wednesday on the handling of natural disasters in integrated ways, a spokesman said.

The exercise which involved about 40 personnel from the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the United States Navy (USN) and Maluku`s Search and Rescue (SAR) team lasted one day, spokesman of the US hospital ship USNS Mercy T-H 19 for Pacific Partnership 2010 Affairs, Daniel Bernardi, said.

"This exercise is held to provide knowledge on how to handle a natural disaster in an integrated way because a natural disaster in one country is different from that in another one," Bernardi said.

So, he said, if a natural disaster happens in a country, rescue workers sent to help mitigate the victims can provide assistance effectively because they already know how to handle it.

He said the joint exercise was divided into two sessions, one was on theories organized at the office of the Maluku governor`s office while the other one was field practice.

Bernardi said that during the Sail Banda event, the Pacific Partership 2010 held a lot of exercises, among others in the health field, emergencies and other types of exercises.

"We call the exercise SMET (Subject Matter Expert Training) which sometimes involve Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the United States," he said.

The USNS Mercy is in Maluku on a Pacific Partnership 2010 mission and to support Operation Surya Bhaskara Jaya which is part of the international yachting event, Sail Banda.

The Pacific Partnership 2010 is an annual humanitarian program of the United States consisting of exercises on the handling of natural disasters in Indonesia.

Singapore navy taking part in Sail Banda

Antara News, Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:30 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The Singapore Navy is ready to support the Bhakti Surya Bhaskara Jaya (SBJ) operations during the international yacht event of Sail Banda 2010, a Singapore Navy commandant said.

"We are ready to support the SBJ activities with a number of medical and construction skilled personnel to rehabilitate schools and worship houses," Commandant of Singapore ship RSS Endeavor-210, Kenny Chen, said.

Kenny Chen met with Ambon`s Naval Base IX deputy commandant Col Eddy Sugiatmo and a number of the Naval Base officers here on Monday. The meeting took place aboard the RSS Endeavour when the Singapore ship berthed at Ambon`s Yos Sudarso pier.

Kenny Chen said he was happy with the opportunity to visit Ambon and other regions in Indonesia to carry out a humanitarian mission in the health field together with other medical teams of the US biggest hospital ship USNS Mercy T-AH 19. USNS Mercy has dropped anchor in Ambon Bay since Monday morning.

Apart from RSS Endeavor and USNS Mercy, Australia also sent two ships of the Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) type from its navy fleet, namely HMAS Labuan and HMAS Tarakan to take part in the humanitarian mission.

Eddy Sugiatmo expressed his thanks for the presence of the medial teams and naval ships of the neighboring countries which came to Ambon to support the SBJ activities held here until August 4, 2010.

"The SBJ operation is one of the Indonesian government and the National Defense Forces (TNI) programs organized to improve the welfare and health of the local people, particularly those living on small islands" he said.

Mercy visit

The Jakarta Post, Antara, Jakarta | Wed, 07/07/2010 7:27 PM

Mercy visit: The US Navy's USNS Mercy hospital ship docks in the Gulf of Jakarta on Wednesday. The ship will take part in the Sail Banda 2010, which is scheduled to run from late July to August. Antara/Fanny Octavianus

KRI Soeharso to conduct Humanitarian mission in Maluku

Antara News, Saturday, July 3, 2010 16:55 WIB

KRI dr Soeharso 990 - kapal rumah sakit milik TNI-AL (photo : Marinir)

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Navy floating hospital KRI dr. Soeharso-990 will conduct a humanitarian mission in Ambon, Maluku for about six weeks.

Chief of Navy Eastern Fleet Command for public information Major Kariono said here on Saturday that the war ship turned floating hospital would take part in Surya Baskara Jaya health operation service in Maluku as part of Sail Banda 2010 civic mission.

"The Surya Baskara Jaya health service activity at Maluku waters is part of international marine event of Sail Banda 2010," Kariono said.

He said the navy personnel on board KRI Soeharso who join the Surya Baskara Jaya operation would give free health services such as a general treatment, dental treatment, minor and major surgeries, and other medical treatments for the people of coastal and remote areas in Maluku.

"It is the realization of the attention form the Navy and the country to the people at coastal and remote areas who have so far found it difficult to get adequate health services," Kariono said.

KRI dr. Soeharso-990 is a ship with facility equal to B Class Hospital which is completed by Emergency Installation, polyclinic, surgery room, ICU, and treatment room.

This KRI is also used to support program in remote areas, coasts, islands, and the border (DTPK) cooperating with other related ministries.

KRI dr. Soeharso-990 will join Singapore` Navy floating hospital RSS Endeavor and US Navy floating hospital USNS Mercy T-AH 19 to Sail Banda civic mission in Maluku.

On Saturday, July 3, KRI Suharso and USNS Mercy will sail to Buru Island in Central Maluku district and then to Ambon and several other target areas," Wiranto said.

A number of scout personnel, students, youths, medical personnel and paramedics on board the three floating hospitals would give medical and social services to the people living in coastal areas in small islands in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku.

Indonesia plans to establish independent coast guard soon

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 06/25/2010 5:44 PM

Former coordinating minister for the economy Dorojatun Kuntjoro Jakti said Friday that Indonesian needs a coast guard independent of the military to ensure that its current military resources are used for defense.

"The Navy’s war ships should be used for defense activities, not to capture fishermen," said Dorojatun said after a discussion at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in Jakarta.

He continued that currently, Indonesia was still using naval war ships to safeguard its waters, including catching foreign or domestic fishermen operating without permits.

"In the United States, the coast guard is separate from the armed forces," he added.

The Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Fadel Muhammad, said that the government was planning to establish an independent coast guard in the near future.

"We have held two meetings to discuss the possibility of establishing the body, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed the coordinating political, law and security affairs minister to lead the execution of the plan," he told reporters after the discussion. (rdf)

Indonesia to Improve Underwater Defense, US Ties

Jakarta Globe, Harry Suhartono & Nopporn Wong-Anan, June 06, 2010

A Kri Kakra-class submarine of Indonesia on a test run after a revamp by South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering at Okpo 21 February 2006. Indonesia has 2 submarines but hopes to buy 10 more. (AFP Photo/DSME)

Singapore. Indonesia plans to increase the size of its submarine fleet over the next two years to defend its territory as well as protect international shipping lanes, its defense minister said on Saturday.

Purnomo Yusgiantoro also told Reuters the country was discussing buying 10 more C-130 military transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) but had not come to any agreement. Indonesia currently has two submarines.

Singapore put out a warning earlier this year about possible attacks on ships in the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes that lies between the city state, Indonesia and Malaysia and carries about 40 percent of global trade.

“We have several countries that we think are able to supply them (submarines). We want to make sure that it would be compatible to our needs as well as our sea (conditions),” Yusgiantoro said in an interview on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialog security conference in Singapore.

“They are very important in order for us to guard sea lanes. We are going to have that in a couple of years,” he said, without giving further details.

Yusgiantoro also said the government had earmarked funds in this year’s budget to modernize some of its 32 C-130s.

“We can use that (plane) not only to bring troops, but also for humanitarian missions. We are ready to buy but we are still in discussions with the seller.”

Indonesia set aside 42 trillion rupiah ($4.6 billion) in 2010 for defense spending, with most earmarked for operating expenditure for its 550,000-strong military force.

The country plans to boost its defense spending up to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2014 from about 0.7-0.8 percent in 2010, among the lowest in the region.

Yusgiantoro held a meeting with U.S. defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday, which he characterised as “very good”.

Indonesia is currently working to improve its military ties with the United States, including removing a ban on military training for its special forces, put in place over rights abuses blamed on elite troops.

“I think things will become more positive,” Yusgiantoro said, but he did not comment on when the ban was likely to be removed.

Yusgiantoro, a Catholic minister in the world’s most populous Muslim country, said his nation’s defense ties with Washington were akin to a marriage, which could be rocky at times.

“I don’t see any problem with our cooperation. But you know you always have little things going on, something like little arguments between you and your wife after she found a picture of another girl in your pocket,” he said.

Reuters