Indonesia: Defense Minister launches warship

Batam/Riau Islands, April 26: Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro here launched the "KRI Clurit", a 40-meter-long ship made in Indonesia to be used to help secure the country's waters in the western region.

"I hereby officially launch The KRI Clurit," the minister said Monday at a ceremony at the Batu Ampar cargo port in Batam, Riau Islands province.

The minister said the KRI Clurit was a swift missile-carrying ship designed and built fully by Indonesians at PT Palindo Marine here.

"With it, Indonesia has started to have the capability to safeguard its seas with self-made ships. We no longer need handouts," he said.

The launching of KRI Clurit-40 was the answer to the question on the responsibility for safeguarding Indonesia's territorial waters which are rich in natural resources.

He said many sea passages in Indonesia's territorial waters were also international trade lanes.

"This event is a milestone in the country's journey to defense industry self-reliance," he said.

He said production of main defense equipment would not stop with the KRI Clurit's making. He said the government would continue to provide the National Defense Forces (TNI) with more ships.

He said a submarine and a destroyer made in Indonesia would be the next additions to the Indonesian navy's fleet.

Yusgiantoro said the navy needed strong ships that can also secure Indonesia's territorial waters in remote areas.

TNI Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono meanwhile said on the occasion that the navy had ordered two KCR-40s and would order 20 more of different types.

The KRC-40 would operate in Indonesia's western waters which are geographically dotted by small islands and divided by straits.

The KRI Clurit was named after a Madurese dagger. Clurit has a form of a question mark believed to reflect the character of Madurese people who will never be satisfied with what they have and their tenacity.

PTI (ANTARA)