Indonesia can't really monitor the Sunda Strait

Oh, pirates! Oh, terrorists! Here's a weak link, as set out here:

The commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the Indonesian Navy in Banten last week was colored by complaints of poor infrastructure and other supporting facility for monitoring Indonesia's waters such as fleets, monitoring posts and radar equipment.

In his speech, Banten Naval Base commander Col. M. Imron Djunaedi requested financial help to monitor the Sunda Strait.

"The strait is an open sailing line, which means all types of vessels can enter the country's waters. Weak control would facilitate smuggling from and into the country."
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Currently the naval base only has two small vessels to patrol the waters.

It also has only two posts, one on Sanghiang island in Anyer district and one at Pelabuhan Ratu Port in Sukabumi, West Java.

Banten, Java's western tip, has a large area to protect and therefore it needs a broader radar system because the sole radar equipment placed at Sanghiang monitoring post was unable to cover the vast waters.

The waters are 501 kilometers long from Salira beach in Serang regency to Binuangeun in Lebak regency.

"To help in our work, we work with the Water Police, port administrators and related agencies to maintain security in the strait," Imron said.

"Piracy and smuggling are likely to occur in Banten's waters because hundreds of ships pass through the waters day and night, while we don't have sophisticated technology (to monitor them)," he added.

More on the Sunda Strait here. Info on the WWII battle, at which the cruisers Houston and Perth were sunk, here.

Red arrow on map points to the Sunda Strait.