12 officers killed in E. Timor helicopter crash<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Udayana Regional Military Commander, Maj.
\nGen. Yudomo Sastrosuhardjo, and Col. Salamat Sidabutar, the chief
\nof the Wira Dharma Military Command in East Timor, were killed
\nyesterday when their helicopter crashed near Liaruca village in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
Army spokesman Brig. Gen. I Dewa Putu Rai confirmed that all
\n12 aboard the Bell 205 helicopter were killed.<\/p>\n
He said the crash occurred at 10:21 a.m. local time,
\nimmediately after the aircraft took off from Liaruca, in
\nmountainous regency of Viqueque, 197 kilometers east of Dili, in
\nrelatively bad weather.<\/p>\n
Yudomo and his entourage were on a three-day working visit to
\nseveral East Timor towns and villages after his appointment as
\nthe new head of the Udayana Regional Military Command on May 27.<\/p>\n
The Udayana Military Command oversees Bali, East and West Nusa
\nTenggara and East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"Earlier today, Maj. Gen. Yudomo visited Baucau regency before
\nleaving for Liaruca, Viqueque,\" Putu Rai said.<\/p>\n
He was quick to dismiss speculation that the accident was
\nconnected to or caused by East Timor separatists still active in
\nthe area.<\/p>\n
\"The helicopter crash was a pure accident,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked about the exact cause of the accident, Putu Rai said an
\nArmy team was now at the crash site conducting an investigation.<\/p>\n
Also killed in the accident were the pilot, Capt. Kusmayadi;
\ncopilot, Capt. Mawi Asmawi; assistant for intelligence affairs to
\nthe Udayana Military Command chief of staff, Col. Pangandaran
\nNapitupulu; assistant for operations to the Udayana Military
\nCommand chief of staff, Col. Satria Buana; and operational staff
\nmembers of the East Timor Military Command, Col. Jodi Kusuma and
\nLt. Col. Simson G. Sigar.<\/p>\n
Also listed in the flight manifest were East Timor Military
\nspokesman Capt. Muhammad, Yudomo's adjutant Second. Lt. Arifin
\nand two flight technicians, Chief Sgt. Supardi and First Sgt.
\nSutarjo.<\/p>\n
Putu Rai said 11 died immediately and Muhammad passed away as
\nhe was being evacuated from the scene.<\/p>\n
Some of the bodies, including Yudomo's, are due to arrive at
\nthe Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase today. However, as of late
\nyesterday evening, no decision had been taken on where the bodies
\nwill be buried.<\/p>\n
Career<\/p>\n
Yudomo, arrived in Dili Wednesday and was due to return to
\nDenpasar, Bali, today.<\/p>\n
Eight days ago he replaced Maj. Gen. Syahrir M.S. as head of
\nthe Udayana Military Command. Syahrir took over command of the
\nArmy's special force (Kopassus).<\/p>\n
Yudomo, a 1971 graduate of the National Military Academy,
\nspent most of his career in Kopassus. He continued his military
\nservice in various regional military commands and joined military
\noperations against separatist movement activities in East Timor
\nand Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
He has also served military postings in Pakistan and India.<\/p>\n
Yudomo was appointed chief of staff of the Jakarta Garrison in
\n1996 and assigned intelligence duties as assistant for security
\naffairs to the Army chief last year.<\/p>\n
Yudomo, 49 years old, is survived by his wife Sri Mulyaningsih
\nand two daughters. His third child, a son, died four years ago.<\/p>\n
Condolence were sent yesterday by Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe
\nXimenes Belo and the chairman of the East Timor chapter of the
\nIndonesian Council of Ulemas, Abdullah M. Sagran.<\/p>\n
\"As an individual and on behalf of East Timor's religious
\ncommunity, I'd like to send condolences to Maj. Gen. Yudomo and
\nhis entourage,\" Belo said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, God may bless all the victims and provide physical
\nand mental strength to their relatives,\" he added. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/12-officers-killed-in-e-timor-helicopter-crash-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}