12 officers killed in E. Timor helicopter crash

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)