Air Force threatens 'sanctions' against U.S. intruders

Air Force threatens 'sanctions' against U.S. intruders

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Air Force plans to seek clarification from the
U.S. government regarding the alleged unauthorized entry of five
F-18 Hornet jets into the country's airspace over the Java Sea.

National Air Defense commander Rear Marshall Wresniwiro said
on Friday that the Indonesian Air Force was coordinating with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta to
investigate the incident.

Wresniwiro said the investigation was aimed at determining if
the aircraft had obtained clearance from the Indonesian
authorities.

He warned that the Air Force would take whatever action was
necessary, or even impose "sanctions", should the investigation
find that the U.S. aircraft had violated Indonesian airspace. He
declined to specify what form such "sanctions" might take.

The incident occurred when five U.S. F-18 jets performed
maneuvers for more than two hours over Bawean island in the Java
Sea.

The Air Force then deployed F-16 fighters to intercept the
five U.S. jets.

During the interception, the Indonesian pilots tried to
contact the F-18s pilots, who initially refused to break radio
silence.

"Both sides were close to firing on each other before the F-18
pilots responded by saying that they were from the U.S. Navy,"
Wresniwiro told a press conference at air defense command
headquarters in East Jakarta.

The Air Force said that the presence of the Hornets was
detected by radar at Surabaya's Juanda air force base.

However, Wresniwiro admitted that a U.S. naval officer had
told the Indonesian Air Force that "they had secured permission
to enter Indonesian airspace while escorting a U.S. aircraft
carrier, two frigates and a tanker."

Wresniwiro said that "the request had arrived too late at air
defense command."

"There are rules for obtaining permission for foreign aircraft
and warships to enter Indonesian territory as they have to ask
permission from the Indonesian Military's Strategic Intelligence
Agency (Bais), Indonesian Military Headquarters, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and air defense headquarters.

"Therefore, such requests have to be made months before they
arrive here," he said.

Asked whether the U.S. Navy had clarified the intended
destination of its vessels, Wresniwiro simply said: "They are
traveling to the eastern zone."

Speculation has been rife that the planes were on their way to
Iraq.

Wresniwiro said that the Indonesian Air Force had ordered the
planes to land on Lombok island, West Nusa Tenggara. However, no
information was forthcoming on whether this order was obeyed.

"Based on our maritime law, both foreign warships and aircraft
entering our territory may face sanctions, ranging from being
observed or expelled, or even being prosecuted under Indonesian
law," he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the
incident, saying it was still seeking clarification on the issue.

A U.S. embassy spokesman told Agence France-Presse that he
would seek more information about the report.