DPR Member Chats with Defence Minister Sjafrie on Full US Airspace Access in Indonesia
Chairman of DPR Commission I, Utut Adianto, has denied rumours of an agreement granting the United States (US) full or blanket overflight access to Indonesian airspace for military purposes.
Utut stated that he had directly confirmed the issue with Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin following the minister’s visit to the Pentagon in the United States some time ago, and assured that the report was untrue.
“This must be checked—what was signed by the Defence Minister, Mr Sjafrie. I tried WhatsApp (WA) him, perhaps he was on a flight, but as soon as he landed, he explained that there was no such thing,” Utut said during a press conference at the parliamentary complex on Tuesday (21/4).
Utut emphasised that airspace is part of a nation’s full sovereignty. Therefore, Indonesia continues to uphold that principle.
Nevertheless, Utut assured that Commission I of the DPR will discuss the issue directly with the Ministry of Defence. They have scheduled a meeting after the DPR members’ recess in mid-May.
The discussion will not only cover the airspace issue but also other matters, such as the incident involving three TNI soldiers killed in Lebanon, and the issue of civilians killed in a shootout in Central Papua’s Puncak Regency on 14 April.
“So, as soon as we enter the recess, it’s reportedly accelerated—originally 21 May, but there will be a recess on 14 May, we will definitely invite him,” Utut said.
The Head of the Defence Information Bureau (Karo Infohan) of the Kemhan Secretariat General, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, later confirmed that the contents of the Letter of Intent (LoI) or statement of intent regarding overflight clearance requested by the United States are not included in the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) agreement.
“That (US aircraft flight permission agreement) is not in the MDCP,” Rico said when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday (14/4).
On Thursday (16/4), the Indonesian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that the recently enhanced defence cooperation between Indonesia and the United States does not include granting free flight access to US military aircraft.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang stated that Indonesia has no policy granting free access to the US or any foreign party to use Indonesian airspace.
“The government emphasises that there is no policy granting free access to foreign parties to use Indonesian airspace,” Yvonne said in her statement on Wednesday (15/4).