12 officers killed in E. Timor helicopter crash

JAKARTA (JP): The Udayana Regional Military Commander, Maj. Gen. Yudomo Sastrosuhardjo, and Col. Salamat Sidabutar, the chief of the Wira Dharma Military Command in East Timor, were killed yesterday when their helicopter crashed near Liaruca village in East Timor.

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. I Dewa Putu Rai confirmed that all 12 aboard the Bell 205 helicopter were killed.

He said the crash occurred at 10:21 a.m. local time, immediately after the aircraft took off from Liaruca, in mountainous regency of Viqueque, 197 kilometers east of Dili, in relatively bad weather.

Yudomo and his entourage were on a three-day working visit to several East Timor towns and villages after his appointment as the new head of the Udayana Regional Military Command on May 27.

The Udayana Military Command oversees Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.

"Earlier today, Maj. Gen. Yudomo visited Baucau regency before leaving for Liaruca, Viqueque," Putu Rai said.

He was quick to dismiss speculation that the accident was connected to or caused by East Timor separatists still active in the area.

"The helicopter crash was a pure accident," he said.

Asked about the exact cause of the accident, Putu Rai said an Army team was now at the crash site conducting an investigation.

Also killed in the accident were the pilot, Capt. Kusmayadi; copilot, Capt. Mawi Asmawi; assistant for intelligence affairs to the Udayana Military Command chief of staff, Col. Pangandaran Napitupulu; assistant for operations to the Udayana Military Command chief of staff, Col. Satria Buana; and operational staff members of the East Timor Military Command, Col. Jodi Kusuma and Lt. Col. Simson G. Sigar.

Also listed in the flight manifest were East Timor Military spokesman Capt. Muhammad, Yudomo's adjutant Second. Lt. Arifin and two flight technicians, Chief Sgt. Supardi and First Sgt. Sutarjo.

Putu Rai said 11 died immediately and Muhammad passed away as he was being evacuated from the scene.

Some of the bodies, including Yudomo's, are due to arrive at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase today. However, as of late yesterday evening, no decision had been taken on where the bodies will be buried.

Career

Yudomo, arrived in Dili Wednesday and was due to return to Denpasar, Bali, today.

Eight days ago he replaced Maj. Gen. Syahrir M.S. as head of the Udayana Military Command. Syahrir took over command of the Army's special force (Kopassus).

Yudomo, a 1971 graduate of the National Military Academy, spent most of his career in Kopassus. He continued his military service in various regional military commands and joined military operations against separatist movement activities in East Timor and Irian Jaya.

He has also served military postings in Pakistan and India.

Yudomo was appointed chief of staff of the Jakarta Garrison in 1996 and assigned intelligence duties as assistant for security affairs to the Army chief last year.

Yudomo, 49 years old, is survived by his wife Sri Mulyaningsih and two daughters. His third child, a son, died four years ago.

Condolence were sent yesterday by Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and the chairman of the East Timor chapter of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, Abdullah M. Sagran.

"As an individual and on behalf of East Timor's religious community, I'd like to send condolences to Maj. Gen. Yudomo and his entourage," Belo said, as quoted by Antara.

"Hopefully, God may bless all the victims and provide physical and mental strength to their relatives," he added. (imn)