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JAKARTA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Defense ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are to meet in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday in an effort to step up maritime security as the threat of piracy is escalating in the region, an Indonesian minister said on Monday.
Defense Minister Ryamizar Ryacudu said the upcoming talks are expected to finalize their previous discussions and reach an agreement on the way of boosting security of the shipping lane in borders of the nations.
"We will discuss it again on Thursday. When we reach an agreement, I will sign it," Ryamizar said.
A joint military exercise will also be discussed during Thursday's meeting, he added.
The minister said Indonesia has put forward a proposal of the way of escorting ships, which was already agreed by the Philippines.
Under the plan, he said, ships are not allowed to sail alone, but in a group with scores of soldiers on board.
Indonesia has banned ships carrying coals from sailing to the Philippines after the fourth kidnapping of Indonesian nationals in the shipping lanes. So far 24 Indonesian seamen, 14 of them have been freed, have been taken hostages by Abu Sayyaf militants in the waters off southern Philippines and Malaysia in the past six months.
The latest abduction happened after the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines reached an agreement in May to conduct a joint patrol to secure their waterways.
The minister said Indonesian armed forces have been allowed to enter the waters of the Philippines to escort vessels carrying coal from Indonesia.
But, the escort has to be reported to the Philippine authorities, he added.
That allows resumption of the transport of coals from Borneo Island of central Indonesia, the world's largest producer of thermal coal, to the Philippines.
The whereabouts of 10 Indonesian hostages have been located, Ryamizar said.
"Seven Indonesians have been detected in Panama and the rest are in Lapac Island," he said.
The minister reaffirmed that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterje has taken stern actions against the Abu Sayyaf militants by dispatching 10,000 troops.
"Days ago I got information that 40 militants were killed and 37 others sustained injury," he added. Enditem
