Gus Dur gives fiery speech at Air Force anniversary

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Monday that the Indonesian Military (TNI) must remain vigilant and refuse to succumb to the tribulations faced as a result of the embargoes it is facing.

"We should not be conquered by such intimidation. Neither should we become dependent on other countries," Abdurrahman said at the commemoration of the Air Force's 55th anniversary celebrations at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in East Jakarta.

"We are a big country with the fourth biggest population in the world. We manifest greatness when we uphold our independence," Abdurrahman said in a fiery speech.

Present at the ceremony were, among others, First Lady Shinta Nuriyah Wahid, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputeri, former Air Force chief Omar Dhani, the TNI chief Adm. Widodo AS, Army Chief Gen. Endriartono Soetarto and Navy Chief Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono.

Abdurrahman further praised the Air Force after it successfully performed an aerobatics show with eight jet fighters comprising of three different types of aircraft -- two F-16 Fighting Falcons, five Hawk MK-53s and a Hawk-100.

Even the force "must engage in cannibalism of the jet's spare parts," the President remarked.

Indonesia faced an arms embargo following the violence which swept East Timor in 1999. While sanctions have slowly eased, there are still major restrictions on various spare parts of combat aircraft and other military hardware.

Abdurrahman also said that the government plans to develop an air force base in Biak, Irian Jaya to guard the country's western wing.

"We currently only have Iswahjudi Airbase (in Madiun, East Java) as our major air base to guard the country's integrity. The air base, however, can only oversee the western part of Indonesia," the President remarked.

Air Force chief Marshall Hanafie Asnan said there was already an airbase Manahua in Biak.

However, it severely lacks personnel and key weaponry, such as radars and jet fighters.

"The eastern side of Indonesia are strategic areas with rich natural resources. We must guard it," Hanafie said. (02)