Indonesia, U.S. hold naval exercises

Indonesia, U.S. hold naval exercises

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy and its American counterpart
have shrugged off the strained relationship between their
governments as they are taking part in an annual series of
disaster relief simulation exercises.

Called CARAT-7/01, the joint exercises began on May 5 and will
finish on May 26. The program involves 1,571 personnel of the
Indonesian Navy and 500 personnel of the U.S. Navy who are based
in Okinawa, Japan.

"The relationship between us (the Indonesian and the U.S.
Navy) is not disturbed, even though the U.S. government has
imposed a military embargo on our country," Navy Chief of Staff
Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono said at the Navy Western Fleet
headquarters here on Thursday after a ceremony which marked the
official start to the training.

Present at the opening ceremony were, among others, U.S.
Ambassador to Indonesia Robert S. Gelbard and the Chief of Marine
Corps Rear Adm. Harry Triono.

Arriving in Tanjung Priok port on Thursday for the joint
exercise were USS Wadsworth, USS Rushmore and USS
Curts. The Indonesian Navy is deploying Ki Hajar Dewantara, KRI
Tanjung Kambani, and KRI Nala-363 warships.

The joint exercise is the seventh in as many years.

During the program, participants will measure their skills in,
among others, screen exercise, diving tactics maneuvering,
support force ashore and deck landing. They will also carry out
humanitarian missions in areas which are still recovering from
recent natural disasters and other civic missions, mostly aimed
at improving people's health.

A U.S. Embassy statement said the program dubbed "Cooperation
Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2001" was part of a wider
exercise involving Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore
and Thailand. (02)