Government to protest U.S. over intrusion<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post,
\nBatam\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government will send an aide-memoire to the U.S. government
\nto express its "deep concern" over the recent intrusion into
\nIndonesian airspace by five American F-18 hornet jet fighters.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono will summon U.S. Ambassador Ralph L.
\nBoyce on Thursday and officially present him with the aide-
\nmemoire.<\/p>\n
"We are expressing concern over the passage of the U.S. jet
\nfighters, which almost disrupted the country's civil aviation.
\nAnd the issue still requires further clarification," the director
\nfor North and Central America affairs at the foreign ministry,
\nDino Pati Djalal, told The Jakarta Post in Batam, Riau, on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Dino said the Indonesian government still had to clarify
\nwhether the U.S. planes notified Indonesian authorities of their
\npassage before making any further diplomatic moves.<\/p>\n
He said his office had summoned U.S. diplomats over the issue
\non Monday, and sought clarification from them over the
\nnotification that Washington claimed to have submitted to
\nauthorities in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"During the meeting, we told the diplomats that we are
\nconcerned by the problem and asked them whether U.S. authorities
\ngave notification before flying over our territory," Dino said.<\/p>\n
Dino, however, said both sides had agreed in the meeting that
\nthe action of the U.S. jet fighters was not hostile and was not
\naimed at creating tension between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Ties between Jakarta and Washington were once again put to the
\ntest when, last week, five U.S. jet fighters were detected
\nmaneuvering over Bawean island in East Java.<\/p>\n
The Air Force dispatched F-16 Falcon jet fighters from an air
\nbase in Madiun, East Java, to intercept the American fighters.<\/p>\n
Washington has claimed it submitted notification that the
\nfighters, which took off from a U.S. frigate, would be engaged in
\nmaneuvers over the island. Indonesian government officials have
\nyet to confirm this notification.<\/p>\n
Dino said: "We have to carefully address the issue as the
\nfacts are not yet fully known .... "<\/p>\n
He said Jakarta would first express its concern over the
\nissue, while still considering whether to submit an official
\nprotest.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-protest-us-over-intrusion-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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