Malaysia Admitted Mistreatment on Indonesian Officers

Cuffed and forced to wear prisoner uniform.

That's what happened to three officers of Indonesian Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries when they were captured by Malaysian police.

Malaysia admitted their mistreatment to Indonesian Ministry officers and promised that it will never happened again in the future.

The mistreatment is one of the main points in the negotiation between Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa and Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Sri Anifah bin Haji Aman when they met in Kinabalu, Malaysia to attend Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.

"Malaysian Foreign Minister admitted their mistreatment on Indonesian Ministry officers and promised that it will never happened again in the future. They even promised to apply an exception for Indonesia, but not to other countries," Marty said on Monday.

Marty expressed the disappointment of Indonesian government over the incident on August 13, 2010, because it has caused anger to Indonesian people.

The incident started when officers of Indonesian Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries captured seven Malaysian fisherman for fishing in Indonesian water, near the border with Malaysia.

Malaysian Marine Police intercept the capture and demand their fisherman to be released. Indonesian officers refused, as the fisherman are breaking Indonesian maritime border. Malaysian Marine Police give warning shots and captured three Indonesian officers in their ship. The remaining Indonesian officers flee, taking the captured Malaysian fisherman with them.

When Indonesian officers contact the Malaysian Maritime Police using one of the captured officer's mobile phone, Malaysian Police demand for a prisoners-exchange; Malaysian fisherman for Indonesian officers.

No deal agreed, and the captured Indonesian officers were taken to Malaysia.

The incident caused an outrage in Indonesia. Everyday, people protest in front of the Malaysian Embassy office in Indonesia, burning Malaysian flag and other extreme actions.

Obama: Palestine and Israel Can Stand Side-by-Side

In his speech about direct negotiation between Palestine and Israel in Washington, President Barack Obama stated that the target of the peace negotiation is the formation of two countries, Palestine and and Israel.

Obama stated that in the last few years, both Palestine and Israel governments have build important steps to establish a sense of truth.

"Although facing many obstacles, we, the U.S government, along with other negotiators never desperate over the peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel," President Obama said in his speech.

After almost two years abandoning the negotiation, Palestine and Israel finally back to the table for a direct negotiation.

President Obama also expressed his gratitude to the negotiator quartet, including U.S Foreign Minister Hillary Clinton and Obama's special emissary for the Middle East peace, George Mitchell.

"The goal of this negotiation is very clear, to hold a direct negotiation between Palestine and Israel. The negotiation was meant to determine final status from the issues that has become obstacles in the negotiation," President Obama continued in his speech.

Once more, President Obama insists that the target of the negotiation is to ensure the security of both Israel and Palestine residents. Obama also stated about the importance of ht colonization started from 1967 and make sure there will be an independence, democratic, and safe Palestine nation.

Obama also hoping that the Palestine nation can stand side by side with Israel.

President Obama added that President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu are two leaders who want peace for their countries.

Obama is seeing that a direct negotiation can indicate a peace agreement in one year. The United States will keep supporting the peace effort and will be an active participant to support the peace negotiation.